Reykjavik: Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

Humpback whales breaching beside the boat and thousands of puffins squabbling over food make this one of Reykjavík’s most rewarding wildlife outings. You sail on two very different boats: little Old Skúli for puffins, then the large Andrea or a quicker express boat for whales.

I like the warm overalls, indoor seating, and free binoculars for the puffin trip. I also like the sensible no-whale policy: if the crew sees nothing, you get another whale-watching ticket. The catch is simple: wildlife is wild, and puffins may remain farther away than your phone camera can handle.

Key points

• Old Skúli gets close to puffin islands: Its shallow draft lets the small boat approach the bird colonies more closely than a large vessel can.
• The Andrea is built for comfort: This spacious whale-watching boat has indoor seating, a cafeteria, and an educational focus.
• The express option saves travel time: You spend the same amount of time in the whale area, but reach it faster.
• Puffin sightings are guaranteed: The operator promises a puffin sighting, while whale sightings depend on nature and weather.
• Guides add real value: Patrick, Alex, Oscar, Celine, and other guides have been praised for clear explanations, humor, and quick wildlife spotting.
• Plan around the season: Whale watching is strongest from April through September, with lower odds outside those months.

Two cruises, two very different wildlife encounters

This $153 combo is not one continuous cruise. It joins a puffin outing and a whale-watching outing from Reykjavík’s Old Harbor. Depending on your departure, you may switch boats after a short return to the harbor, or spend the puffin portion first and then go whale watching.

That distinction matters. The puffin ride is short and focused, usually about an hour. The classic whale trip lasts about three to three and a half hours, while the express whale trip lasts about two to two and a half hours. The express boat reaches the whale area sooner, and you still spend the same amount of time searching there.

I see the combo as a good half-day wildlife plan, especially if you want two kinds of Icelandic animals without arranging separate bookings. It is also flexible because the two tours do not have to be taken on the same day.

Starting at Reykjavík’s Old Harbor

You meet at the Special Tours office in Reykjavík’s Old Harbor. The location is practical, with both excursions departing from the same general harbor area, but pay attention to your assigned time and boat. This is not a hop-on sightseeing cruise where you casually wander aboard.

The harbor setting gives you a quick sense of Reykjavík’s close relationship with the sea. Soon after check-in, the crew supplies the gear you need for comfort. Warm overalls are included, and you can use warm indoor seating on the larger whale boat.

I would still wear warm layers and comfortable clothing. Icelandic weather can shift quickly, and the open viewing areas are useful when animals appear. Bring a camera, but bring patience too. A whale may surface for only a few seconds, while puffins often move too quickly for an easy phone photo.

Old Skúli and Reykjavík’s puffin islands

The puffin trip uses Skúlaskeið, better known as Old Skúli. This small boat has a shallow draft, which lets it approach the low islands where puffins breed. That design is the main reason this portion feels different from a standard sightseeing cruise.

The ride to the islands is gentle when conditions cooperate. The whole outing is roughly an hour, with about 20 minutes each way and a shorter period near the colonies, according to the timing described by visitors. You do not step onto the islands. The boat stays at a respectful distance, both to protect the birds and to avoid disturbing nesting areas.

You can expect plenty of movement. Puffins fly, swim, and skim low over the water, while other seabirds may join the scene. Black guillemots and gulls have also appeared on these trips. At some colonies, the sight can be especially lively, with large numbers of puffins competing with gulls for food.

The included binoculars are genuinely useful. Ask for a pair if you need one, particularly if you are seated outside or if the birds remain on the far side of an island. The puffins are charming, but they are small. A phone camera may produce little more than dark dots, even when your eyes can follow the action.

Patrick has guided this trip and is remembered for mixing bird facts with humor. Other guides have also been praised for explaining puffin behavior clearly and answering questions. The guide matters here because the boat ride itself is short. Without good commentary, you would mainly be looking at birds and water. With it, you learn why the puffins gather on these islands and what else is flying around them.

The main weakness is distance. Some departures get close enough for excellent viewing, but not every trip does. A full boat can also make it hard to hear the guide from the outside seating area. I would treat this as a wildlife-viewing cruise, not a guaranteed close-up photography session.

Whale watching in Faxaflói Bay

The whale portion heads into Faxaflói Bay, where the most common sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. The bay can produce quiet days with only a few distant blows, or extraordinary sessions with several humpbacks feeding near the boat.

The classic trip uses Andrea, described as Iceland’s largest whale-watching boat. Its size gives you room to move around, indoor seating, and a cafeteria where you can buy hot drinks and refreshments. The educational approach also suits families, since you can warm up inside between sightings rather than spending the entire trip on deck.

The crew usually keeps scanning the water and calls out directions when a whale surfaces. That help is important. A humpback can appear on one side of the boat, disappear, then surface well behind you. Guides such as Alex, Oscar, Celine, and Rebecca have been praised for explaining what you are seeing, how to spot a blow, and why whales behave as they do.

On a strong day, the experience can be remarkable. Humpbacks may breach, slap a fin, roll onto their backs, or lift their flukes before sounding. Dolphins may swim alongside the boat. Minke whales tend to be smaller and quicker, but they can appear repeatedly. One especially active outing produced more than 15 humpbacks and several minkes, though you should regard that as an unusually lucky day rather than a normal promise.

The less exciting possibility is a few brief tails, sprays, or no whales at all. That is not a failure of the crew. The animals move freely, and sea conditions can limit where the boat goes. If nothing is spotted, the operator provides a free ticket to try again.

Classic or express whale watching?

The choice between boats is mainly about time and comfort.

The classic whale trip on Andrea lasts about three to three and a half hours. I would choose it if you prefer a large, spacious boat, indoor seating, and a cafeteria. It is also the better fit if you want a slower, more educational outing and do not mind spending longer on the water.

The express option leaves one hour later on a faster boat. It takes about two to two and a half hours, but the shorter duration comes from reaching the whale area more quickly. You still receive the same amount of viewing time in that area.

The express choice works well when you want to combine both activities in a tight schedule. It also reduces the amount of time spent traveling out to the search zone. The tradeoff is that a faster, smaller boat may feel less roomy than Andrea, though the supplied details do not specify a full seating comparison.

The listed departure patterns are important:

• The 9:00 AM departure uses classic whale watching, followed by the 12:30 PM Puffin Express.
• The 10:00 AM departure uses express whale watching, followed by the 12:30 PM Puffin Express.
• The 12:30 PM departure begins with Puffin Express, followed by express whale watching at 2:00 PM.

Allow for the fact that these are two separate tours. You return to the harbor between portions when the schedule requires it. I would not book a museum visit or tight airport transfer immediately afterward.

Weather, seas, and warm clothing

The captain decides whether to sail based on weather, sea conditions, passenger safety, and comfort. That judgment can change the day’s plan. One outing had its whale portion canceled because of rough seas, while the puffin cruise still ran and delivered good bird viewing. A refund was arranged for the canceled whale portion when rescheduling was not possible.

When the boat sails, rough water can still affect the experience. A large vessel may reduce the sense of motion, but it cannot remove ocean swell. Seasickness medicine has been available on some trips, and on at least one departure the crew offered pills in advance after warning passengers about rough conditions.

I would dress as if the day might be colder than it looks from the harbor. The included overalls are a major practical benefit because they help with wind and spray. Wear warm base layers underneath, and choose comfortable clothes that let you move easily between indoor and outdoor areas.

The whale season is generally strongest from April through September. Outside those months, the chance of finding whales may be lower. Puffin availability is also seasonal, and by late summer the birds may be less numerous as the breeding season ends, though plenty can still be present.

What makes the guides worth listening to

The animals are the reason to book, but the guides shape the quality of the trip. A good guide helps you see more because they watch for blows, fins, and flight patterns while you scan the water.

The best commentary combines science with a light touch. Patrick, known on some trips as Patrick Pirate Puffin, has used jokes and stories to keep families engaged. Alex has been praised for marine facts and enthusiasm. Oscar and Celine have also guided whale trips with clear explanations and quick calls when animals surfaced.

This is not just filler while the boat moves. You learn how to recognize a whale’s blow, why a humpback may expose its fluke, and how puffins move between the water and their island colonies. I especially value the conservation-minded tone reported on some whale trips, since it frames the animals as wild creatures rather than performers.

Is $153 good value?

At $153 per person, the combo is not cheap. Iceland’s boat excursions add up quickly, and the puffin portion alone can feel expensive if the birds stay far from the boat.

The value improves if you want both experiences and would otherwise book them separately. You receive two guided cruises, warm overalls, indoor seating on the whale boat, binoculars for puffin viewing, and a free retry if the whale search produces nothing. The guide commentary also makes the trips more than simple transport to a bird island or feeding area.

The value drops if your main goal is close-up photography. Puffins may be too small for a phone, and boat movement makes sharp images difficult. The whale trip can also be quiet, and a free return ticket has limited use if you are leaving Reykjavík soon.

I would call it fair value for a full wildlife half-day, especially in summer and with flexible plans. It is less compelling if you only want a guaranteed animal encounter, since the whale portion cannot provide that.

Who should book this cruise combo?

I recommend it for families, first-time visitors to Iceland, and anyone who wants a simple way to see marine wildlife from Reykjavík. The two boats keep the day varied, and the indoor seating plus warm overalls make it manageable in cool weather.

It suits you particularly well if you can stay flexible about the date. If the sea is rough or the whales are absent, you have a better chance of using the free return policy. I would also choose it if you enjoy learning about wildlife, since the guides are a major part of the experience.

I would think twice if you dislike boats, suffer badly from seasickness, or need a tightly timed afternoon. The whale ride can take several hours, and ocean conditions are beyond the operator’s control. Photographers should bring binoculars and temper expectations about close, perfectly framed shots.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at the Special Tours office in Reykjavík’s Old Harbor.

How long does the combo tour last?

The advertised duration is four hours. The exact timing depends on whether you choose classic or express whale watching and on the order of the two cruises.

Are the puffin and whale trips separate tours?

Yes. They are two separate cruises, and you do not have to take them on the same day.

What boat is used for puffin watching?

The puffin trip uses Skúlaskeið, also called Old Skúli. Its shallow draft helps it approach the small islands where puffins live.

What boat is used for classic whale watching?

The classic whale tour operates on Andrea, described as Iceland’s largest whale-watching boat. It has indoor seating and a cafeteria.

Can I choose the express whale tour?

Yes. You can switch to the express whale tour, which uses a faster boat and reaches the whale area sooner. The whale portion lasts about two to two and a half hours.

What animals might I see?

Common whale-watching sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. The puffin trip focuses on puffins and may also include other seabirds.

What happens if no whales appear?

You receive a free ticket to try the whale-watching tour again if nothing is spotted.

Are warm clothes provided?

Warm overalls and warm indoor seating are included. You should still bring warm clothing and wear comfortable clothes.

Should you book it?

Book this combo if you want puffins and whales in one Reykjavík outing, value good guiding, and can accept that wildlife does not follow a script. The puffin sighting is guaranteed, but the whale experience ranges from a few distant blows to a spectacular group of humpbacks feeding near the boat.

Choose the express option when time matters. Choose Andrea’s classic trip when comfort and room to move matter more. With flexible plans, binoculars, warm layers, and realistic expectations, this is a strong way to get out on Faxaflói Bay and see Iceland’s wildlife where it belongs, in the open sea.