Iceland Super Saver: Puffin Cruise plus Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik

The best part of this Reykjavik combo is the contrast: a roomy vessel searches Faxafloi Bay for whales, while a smaller boat circles Akurey for puffins and seabirds. I like the flexible order and the practical extras, especially whale-cruise overalls and puffin binoculars. I also like that whale sightings come with a free return ticket if luck runs out.

The catch is simple: these are wild animals. A whale may appear close enough for a clean photograph, or you may spend hours seeing only distant fins, dolphins, or porpoises. The puffins are protected on their island, so you stay on the boat and may need binoculars for a good look.

Key Points at a Glance

• Two different boats: Take a longer whale cruise and a shorter puffin trip, often with only a brief changeover between them.
• Akurey’s puffins: Circle the rocky island without landing, watching puffins, Arctic terns, black guillemots, and northern fulmars.
• Whale sightings vary: Humpback and minke whales are possible, along with white-beaked dolphins and porpoises.
• Useful cold-weather gear: Warm overalls and Wi-Fi are provided on the whale cruise, while blankets and binoculars help on the puffin boat.
• Guides shape the day: Strong guides such as Jo, Lucas, Blanca, and Patrick have helped passengers spot wildlife and understand what they are seeing.
• A fair backup plan: If no whales appear in Faxafloi Bay, you receive a complimentary ticket for another whale-watching cruise.

Two Wildlife Trips From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

This experience combines two separate boat outings for about four and a half hours. You meet at Geirsgata 11 in central Reykjavik, close to public transportation, and return to the same meeting point at the end.

The whale-watching trip uses the larger boat and heads into Faxafloi Bay. The puffin outing uses a smaller boat and focuses on Akurey, a rocky island where puffins gather during the breeding season. You can choose which tour comes first, which helps you fit the experience around lunch, another activity, or your hotel schedule.

That flexibility matters more than it may sound. One common arrangement is a longer whale cruise first, followed by a short break and the puffin trip. Another is the reverse. You need to reconfirm your cruise times with Special Tours Iceland after booking, so do not treat the order as automatic.

The advertised price is about $156.19 per person. For two separate boat trips, wildlife commentary, cold-weather gear, Wi-Fi, binoculars, and a whale-sighting backup ticket, I consider that reasonable for a visitor who wants both experiences in one half-day. It is less attractive if you mainly want close-up photographs, since wildlife distance and sea conditions can limit what you see.

The Whale Cruise: A Patient Search Across Faxafloi Bay

The whale-watching section is the longer and more open-water part of the day. You board at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour and settle into a large vessel with indoor seating, viewing areas, onboard commentary, and free Wi-Fi.

The crew watches for minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and porpoises. You may also see seabirds, including some of the same species found around Akurey. The guide’s job is part naturalist, part spotter, and part traffic controller, since several boats may be working in the same area.

This is not a show with guaranteed appearances. A successful trip can bring several humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Some departures have seen four humpbacks, while others have produced only a distant minke or no whale at all. Even a good sighting may last seconds, giving you a back, fin, or spout rather than a full-body view.

That uncertainty is the main thing to understand before you pay. If you need a guaranteed animal encounter, no Iceland whale cruise can honestly promise that. If you enjoy being on the water and can appreciate a spout, a tail, or a pod of dolphins, the trip has a better chance of feeling worthwhile.

The best guides make a real difference. Jo and Lucas have been praised for clear explanations and sharp eyes, while Blanca has been especially good at pointing out whales, dolphins, and birds. A strong guide tells you where to look before the animal surfaces, which can save you from staring at the wrong patch of sea.

The boat usually provides warm overalls. Use them. Even in June, the water can feel cold and windy, and the outer viewing areas are much chillier than the cabin. Motion-sickness tablets, ginger candy, and sick bags may be available when conditions are rough, but I would not depend on the sea being calm. If you know you are prone to sickness, plan ahead.

The boat may sell snacks, but food and drinks are not included. You can use the Wi-Fi during the cruise, though the main reason to stay connected is less important than keeping your eyes on the water.

What Makes the Puffin Cruise Different

The puffin trip is shorter, often around an hour, and uses a smaller boat. You circle Akurey, watching puffins near the rocky shore and scanning for Arctic terns, black guillemots, and northern fulmars.

The smaller craft gives this part of the day a more focused feel. You are not simply crossing open water and hoping something surfaces. The captain circles the island to provide different angles, while the guide explains puffin behavior, feeding habits, and physical features.

Patrick has been singled out for combining humor with clear explanations, and other guides have been praised for making the short trip informative without filling every second with talk. That balance matters on a small boat, where a good narrator can help you notice what your eyes might miss.

You do not land on Akurey. The island is a protected breeding area, and the boat keeps its distance to avoid disturbing the birds. This is the right approach, but it also creates the puffin tour’s chief limitation: you may see many birds without getting a close portrait.

Binoculars are provided, although the supply may not always give every person a pair at the same moment. If you own compact binoculars, bring them. They make a real difference when puffins sit on the water or cluster along the island’s rocky edge.

Some departures bring puffins close to the boat. Others leave you watching birds fly around the island. Tide, weather, bird behavior, and the boat’s need to respect the protected area all affect the view. The experience is best understood as a quiet wildlife circuit, not a visit to a puffin colony on foot.

Guides, Captains, and the Human Side of the Trip

The boats and wildlife are only half the experience. The guide determines how much you learn and how many sightings you catch.

The strongest commentary explains what the animals are doing without turning the trip into a nonstop lecture. You may hear about puffin physiology, feeding behavior, and population concerns, along with information about whale species and the marine life of Faxafloi Bay.

Captains also communicate with other boats about sightings. That cooperation can help the fleet locate animals more efficiently, though it can also mean several vessels gather near a whale. One passenger raised concerns about boats staying too close and running alongside whales. The company says it follows the IceWhale code of conduct and tries to get close while respecting the animals.

That is worth keeping in mind. You are booking a wildlife trip, not a private encounter. The crew may position the boat for a better view, but the animals set the distance and timing.

Language quality can vary by departure. Many guides speak clear English, and several have been praised for humor and strong explanations. One whale guide was difficult for a passenger to understand. If detailed commentary is important to you, the included Special Tours App may help. It is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese.

Timing, Boat Comfort, and Group Size

The activity allows up to 33 people, though the whale boat can feel much larger and busier than the smaller puffin craft. On the whale cruise, indoor seating provides shelter, but the best viewing areas can fill quickly. If you want an outside position, move up when the crew gives useful sighting information.

The puffin boat can feel crowded because the vessel is compact. The operator states that it follows a maximum passenger limit for safety, but a full boat still reduces personal space and can make viewing less comfortable.

The two outings may not feel equal in length. The whale cruise can take roughly two and a half to three hours, while the puffin section may last about an hour. That difference explains why some people find the puffin trip delightful and others find it too short for the price.

You may have only a short break between boats. Bring water and a small snack, since food and drinks are not included. If you need hotel pickup or return transport, add it when arranging the trip directly with the supplier. Hotel transfers cost extra, and the standard meeting point is the Old Harbour area.

Is the Combination Good Value at $156.19?

The value depends on how you define success.

If you want two distinct ways to see Icelandic wildlife, the price is sensible. You receive a longer search for whales, a separate puffin-focused trip, warm overalls on the whale boat, Wi-Fi, binoculars, blankets, guide commentary, and a free return whale ticket if no whales appear.

If you are mainly paying for close-up images, the value is less certain. Puffins can remain far enough away that your best view comes through binoculars. Whales may surface only briefly, and rough water can make photography difficult. A phone camera will not always produce a satisfying image at sea.

The strongest value comes when your departure includes humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, and close puffin activity. Several departures have delivered that combination. But you should also be comfortable with a quieter result, such as dolphins without whales or puffins seen mainly in flight.

I would choose this package instead of booking the two trips separately when I wanted both and had limited time in Reykjavik. The discount and shared meeting point simplify the day. I would skip the package if I only cared about puffins, since the dedicated trip is short, or if I only wanted whales, since a standalone whale cruise would be more focused.

How to Prepare for Cold Water and Wildlife Watching

Dress for wind, not just the air temperature. Wear warm layers, bring a waterproof outer layer, and use the provided overalls on the whale boat. The indoor cabin helps, but you will want to step outside when something appears.

Take motion sickness seriously. The whale cruise can travel farther from shore, and one rough departure left passengers grateful for ginger and sick bags. If you are unsure, ask the crew about available options and bring whatever remedy works for you.

Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the entire trip looking at a screen. A whale can surface well away from the boat, and the guide may call out the sighting only moments before it appears. Binoculars are more useful than a long struggle with digital zoom.

Finally, expect the puffin island to remain off-limits. The restriction protects the birds and their breeding ground. You are seeing them in a natural setting, but you are not walking among them.

Who Should Book This Reykjavik Combo?

I recommend it for families, first-time visitors, and anyone who wants a simple half-day wildlife outing from Reykjavik. Children may especially enjoy the puffin boat, which feels more immediate and easier to understand than a long open-water search.

It also suits you if you enjoy nature more than guaranteed spectacle. A humpback tail slap is a bonus, not a promise. The boat ride, seabirds, guide commentary, and changing sea conditions are part of the day.

I would be cautious if you have limited tolerance for cold, motion sickness, crowded viewing areas, or distant wildlife. The experience is not designed for landing on puffin islands or approaching whales at close range.

Should You Book It?

Book this Iceland Super Saver if you want both puffins and whales without arranging two separate outings. The flexible order, included cold-weather gear, helpful guides, and free repeat whale ticket make the package practical.

Go in with realistic expectations. You might see humpbacks close enough for memorable photographs, or you might see only dolphins and a few distant fins. You might watch puffins by the dozen, or use binoculars to pick them out near Akurey. For a wildlife day, that uncertainty is part of the bargain.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Poor weather can also lead to a new date or full refund. Reconfirm your cruise times, dress warmly, and choose this tour for the experience of searching Iceland’s coastal waters, not for a guaranteed close-up encounter.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland, and ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the combined experience last?

The total duration is approximately four hours and 30 minutes.

Can I choose which tour I take first?

Yes. You have flexibility over the order of the whale-watching cruise and puffin cruise, but you need to reconfirm the exact cruise times with the supplier.

What wildlife might I see?

Possible sightings include humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, porpoises, puffins, Arctic terns, black guillemots, and northern fulmars.

Are whale sightings guaranteed?

No. If you do not see any whales in Faxafloi Bay, you receive a complimentary ticket for another whale-watching cruise.

Are puffins guaranteed?

The tour visits Akurey, a known puffin area, but wildlife sightings and viewing distances can vary. You may see puffins from the boat, sometimes at a distance.

Can I go onto Akurey?

No. The puffin island is a protected breeding area, so you remain on the boat and circle the island.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel transfers are available to purchase separately through the supplier for an additional fee.

What is included on the boats?

The whale cruise includes free Wi-Fi and warm overalls. The puffin cruise includes binoculars and a provided soft blanket. The Special Tours App is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.