Whale Watching in Reykjavik by Speedboat

The best part of this Reykjavik outing is the fast, low-to-the-water RIB boat. You cover more sea than a standard harbor cruise, and the ride itself adds real excitement. I especially like the small group of no more than 12 people and the chance to see puffins near their breeding grounds from May through August. The suspension seats are a welcome touch on choppy North Atlantic water.

I also like the way the trip mixes wildlife with city views. You get a look at the islands and open water, then cruise past Sun Voyager and Harpa Concert Hall on the way back. The main drawback is simple: whales are wild animals, so sightings are never promised, and the speedboat can be rough for anyone with back trouble or anyone who is pregnant.

Key points to know before booking

• A fast RIB covers more search area: The boat can move quickly between likely wildlife spots instead of staying close to the harbor.
• Only 12 people join the boat: That gives you a better chance of seeing the water from the outside edge of the vessel.
• Puffins are seasonal: Look for them near their breeding grounds from early May to late August.
• Shock seats soften the ride: The suspension seats improve comfort, but this is still an active boat trip.
• The harbor return adds city sightseeing: Sun Voyager, Harpa Concert Hall, fishing huts, and restaurants appear from an unusual angle.
• There is a backup if whales do not appear: You receive a complimentary ride ticket when no whales are spotted.

A two-hour whale trip with a proper speedboat thrill

This is not a slow, scenic cruise where you sit in a warm cabin and wait for the sea to provide the show. You ride in a rigid inflatable boat, often called a RIB, with a powerful engine, low sides, and suspension seats designed to absorb some of the bumps.

That distinction matters. The boat can travel quickly and search a wider area around Reykjavik than a larger vessel tied to a slower pace. It also puts you close to the water. If dolphins swim alongside the boat or a whale surfaces nearby, you get a much more immediate view than you would from a high deck.

The ride is part of the attraction. Several people found the speed and handling memorable even when wildlife was limited. One particularly fortunate trip included dolphins following the boat, several minke whales, and a humpback whale surfacing. Another included dolphins, a minke whale, puffins, and even a shark.

You should still keep expectations sensible. A whale safari is a search, not a performance. A calm day can produce excellent sightings, but rough water, poor conditions, or animals staying underwater can change the experience quickly.

Meeting at Reykjavik Old Harbour

You make your own way to Ægisgarður 5 at Reykjavik Old Harbour. Arrive 30 minutes before departure. That extra time is useful because you need to check in, hear the safety instructions, and put on the provided warm overalls.

The Old Harbour is a practical starting point for a short Reykjavik activity. It is close to the city center and already has a working waterfront feel, with colorful fishing buildings and places to eat nearby. The harbor also gives you an immediate sense of what the trip will be about: Icelandic city life on one side, open North Atlantic water on the other.

Do not bring luggage or a large bag. Closed-toe shoes are required, and you should dress for conditions that may feel colder on the water than they do on land. Warm overalls are supplied, but the boat remains exposed to wind and spray.

The tour is conducted in English. Your captain handles the boat while a wildlife guide explains what you are seeing and helps search the water. Past trips have included guides such as Elsa and Raoul, both praised for being friendly and clear when explaining the animals and the local waters.

Why the small RIB boat changes the experience

A group limit of 12 is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip over a larger whale-watching vessel. You are not packed into a broad cabin with rows of passengers. The smaller boat gives you a more direct connection to the water and makes it easier to turn your attention toward an animal when it surfaces.

The low seating position also helps. Dolphins can appear close to the side of the RIB, and whales may seem more imposing when you are near the waterline rather than looking down from a tall deck. The tradeoff is less shelter. You should choose this trip for the open-air excitement, not for a quiet indoor ride.

The suspension seats are designed to reduce the impact of the boat moving at speed. They improve the ride, but they do not make this a smooth sightseeing cruise. You may still feel sudden movement, especially if the sea is unsettled. That is why the operator does not recommend the tour for people with back problems or for pregnant women.

The age and height rules are firm. The trip is for children over 10 who are at least 145 centimeters tall, or about 4 feet 8 inches. Smaller children and anyone below that height cannot join.

The early puffin stop from May through August

From early May to the end of August, the trip includes a short stop near puffin breeding grounds. This is a fine seasonal extra, though it should not be the only reason you book.

Puffins are among Iceland’s most appealing birds, but they are smaller than many first-time visitors expect. From a moving boat, sightings can be brief. You might see birds on the water, near the islands, or around their breeding area before the boat continues toward the larger marine animals.

The timing matters. Outside the May to August window, you should not count on puffins. During the season, the guide makes a short stop near the breeding grounds at the beginning of the tour, so this part comes before the main whale and dolphin search.

I like this early stop because it gives the outing a clear rhythm. You begin with the nearby islands and seabirds, then move farther out to look for whales and dolphins. It also makes the trip more than a single-minded search for one type of animal.

Searching for whales, dolphins, and seabirds

After leaving the harbor, the captain takes the boat into the open water. The crew uses the RIB’s speed to cover a larger area, looking for signs of whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds.

Your guide will help you understand what to watch for. A whale may show only a back or blow before disappearing. Dolphins can be easier to spot when they travel together or approach the boat. The most dramatic sightings are never guaranteed, but the low boat gives you a strong chance of feeling close to the action when it happens.

Minke whales are among the animals seen on past trips. Humpback whales have also appeared, including one that breached during a particularly successful outing. Dolphins have been seen jumping and riding alongside the boat, sometimes turning the search into a fast-moving display beside the RIB.

There is an important difference between a close sighting and a long sighting. You may get a near view of a whale that surfaces only once, or watch dolphins for several minutes as they keep pace with the boat. The guide and captain may continue searching when wildlife moves farther from the harbor, which can add to the sense of adventure but also means the return journey may feel more exposed.

If you see no whales, the operator provides a complimentary ticket for another ride. That policy does not remove the uncertainty of wildlife watching, but it does offer some protection against paying for a whale trip and receiving no whale sighting at all.

The ride back past Sun Voyager and Harpa

The return leg is not simply a trip back to the dock. The boat cruises along Reykjavik’s shoreline, giving you a different view of the city.

The Sun Voyager sculpture is one of the most recognizable sights from the waterfront. From the sea, you see it in relation to the shoreline rather than as an isolated object beside the road. The boat also passes Harpa Concert Hall, whose glass exterior looks especially striking from the water.

Near the Old Harbour, you see fishing huts and restaurants lining the waterfront. This is one of the tour’s quieter strengths. Even if the animals remain elusive, you still get a city sightseeing ride that shows Reykjavik from an angle most visitors miss.

The return may include a playful speedboat spin in the harbor, depending on the captain and conditions. This has been a popular detail on past outings, but you should treat it as a possible flourish rather than a fixed promise. The trip ends back at the original harbor meeting point after roughly two hours.

Is the $200 price fair?

At $200 per person, this is not the budget whale trip in Reykjavik. You are paying for a small group, a fast boat, safety equipment, warm overalls, a professional captain, and a wildlife guide.

The value depends on what you want from the outing. If your priority is the lowest possible price and a sheltered seat, a standard larger boat may suit you better. If you care about speed, a group of only 12, and being low on the water near the animals, the higher price has a clear reason.

I would also count the boat ride itself as part of the value. Several past outings were described as exciting even when whale sightings were not perfect. Dolphins, puffins, seabirds, and the Reykjavik shoreline add more chances for the trip to feel worthwhile.

The complimentary return ticket helps when no whales are seen, though using it requires another available time in your schedule. That is easier if you are staying in Reykjavik for several days and harder if you are making a brief stopover.

Weather, comfort, and what to wear

Conditions at sea can change even when Reykjavik looks pleasant from the street. One scheduled trip was canceled because the sea was unsafe, despite good weather on land. The crew explained the decision in detail and moved the booking to the next day.

That is a useful reminder: a weather cancellation is not necessarily a sign that the company is being cautious without reason. The boat operates on open water, and safety conditions offshore can differ from those at the harbor.

Wear closed-toe shoes and use the provided warm overalls. Do not bring a large bag. Because the boat is exposed and moves quickly, you should be comfortable with wind, spray, and sudden motion.

The suspension seats help with comfort, but they do not change the basic nature of the trip. If you have a history of back problems, this is a poor match. It is also not suitable during pregnancy. Children must be over 10 and at least 145 centimeters tall.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik excursion?

I would choose this trip for an adult or older child who wants wildlife watching with an active ride attached. It suits people who would rather feel the boat accelerate than sit quietly in a large cabin.

It is also a good choice if you have limited time in Reykjavik. In two hours, you can combine open-water wildlife watching, island views, puffins in season, and a shoreline look at Sun Voyager and Harpa.

The trip works best for someone willing to accept uncertainty. You might see minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, porpoises, puffins, and seabirds. You might also see only a brief whale back or no whale at all. The guides and captain can search well, but no crew can control the animals.

I would skip it if you want a calm, sheltered cruise or if fast boat movement makes you uneasy. I would also avoid placing it on the most tightly scheduled part of a short itinerary, since rough conditions can lead to a canceled departure and a later rescheduling.

Small details that make the booking easier

Choose a departure time that leaves you room to adjust if weather affects the schedule. Arrive 30 minutes early, since the safety briefing and clothing change are part of the pre-departure process.

Keep your phone and camera secure. Large bags are not allowed, and the boat’s movement makes casual handling of equipment risky. Closed-toe shoes are required, so sandals are not a good choice.

If puffins are important to you, book between early May and late August. If whales are your main goal, allow enough time in Reykjavik to use the complimentary return ride if needed.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve while paying later. Those options are useful when your Iceland plans are still shifting.

Should you book the Reykjavik speedboat whale safari?

Book it if you want a small-group wildlife outing with a lively ride and you are comfortable accepting nature’s uncertainty. The fast RIB, suspension seats, low waterline, and 12-person limit give it a more personal feel than a standard whale cruise.

The strongest reasons to choose it are the boat handling, the friendly English-speaking crew, the chance to see dolphins close to the vessel, and the seasonal puffin stop. The city views on the return make the two-hour schedule feel well used.

Skip it if you need a smooth, quiet boat, have back problems, are pregnant, or cannot spare time for a weather-related change. At $200, it is a premium activity, but the price is easier to justify if you value the speedboat experience as much as the animals.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching speedboat tour leave from?

The meeting point is Reykjavik Old Harbour at Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavik.

How long does the tour last?

The trip lasts about two hours, including the wildlife search and the return along Reykjavik’s shoreline.

What animals might I see?

You might see whales, dolphins, porpoises, puffins, and seabirds. Past sightings have included minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, puffins, and a shark.

Can I see puffins on this tour?

Puffins may be seen near their breeding grounds from early May through the end of August. The puffin stop takes place near the beginning of the tour.

Is the boat suitable for children?

Children must be over 10 years old and at least 145 centimeters tall. Anyone under 10 or below that height cannot join.

What should I bring?

Bring closed-toe shoes. Warm overalls and necessary safety equipment are provided, and luggage or large bags are not allowed.

What happens if no whales are spotted?

If no whales are seen, the operator provides a complimentary ticket for another ride before you leave.