Reykjavik: Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

Reykjavík’s Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo gives you two very different wildlife outings in one half-day plan. The little boat Old Skúli slips close to puffin islands, while the large Andrea searches Faxaflói Bay for minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and porpoises.

I like the warm overalls and indoor seating, especially when Iceland’s weather turns cool and damp. I also like the no-whale free-ticket policy, which takes some of the sting out of nature refusing to perform. The main drawback is that puffins can still look small from the boat, and the whale ride can be rough or quiet.

Key points to know before booking

• Two boats, two wildlife settings: Old Skúli handles the puffin cruise, while the spacious Andrea covers classic whale watching.
• Puffins are the more reliable sighting: The tour includes a 100 percent puffin sightings guarantee, though close photographs are not guaranteed.
• Whale sightings vary: Common possibilities include minke whales, humpbacks, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.
• Choose your timing carefully: The 9:00 AM departure uses the classic whale cruise, while the 10:00 AM option uses the faster express boat.
• Warm gear is supplied: Overalls, indoor seating, and binoculars for the puffin trip help take the edge off the North Atlantic weather.
• The tours are separate: You can take both on the same day or arrange them on different days.

Two Reykjavík cruises with two very different personalities

This $153 combo is best understood as two linked but separate excursions, not one continuous cruise. You meet at the Special Tours office in Reykjavík’s Old Harbor, take one boat out, return to the harbor, and then join the second trip.

That setup works well for your attention span. The puffin ride is short and focused, usually about an hour, while whale watching takes longer and involves searching a broad area of Faxaflói Bay. You get a close look at one bird colony, then a wider search for large marine animals.

I like this format because it gives you a better sample of Iceland’s sea life than choosing only one cruise. It also means you should not expect every part to feel equally exciting. Puffin watching is more predictable. Whale watching has the greater payoff, but also the greater chance of a slow day.

The operator is Special Tours Iceland, and the live guiding is in English. Guides on recent departures have included Patrick on the puffin boat and Alex, Oscar, and Celine on whale trips. Guide assignments can change, but the strongest outings pair clear animal-spotting instructions with a steady stream of useful facts and jokes.

Old Skúli and the puffin islands

The puffin portion uses Skúlaskeið, called Old Skúli, a small boat with a shallow draft. That matters because the boat can approach the small islands where puffins breed more closely than a large vessel could.

The ride to the islands is gentle in good conditions and takes roughly 20 minutes each way, with viewing time in between. The trip is not a landing excursion. You remain on the boat, watching puffins fly, swim, and gather around the rocky islands.

Puffins are charming, but they are not oversized birds waiting politely for photographs. They are quick, small, and often farther away than you expect. Binoculars are available for the puffin tour, and you should use them. They make a big difference when the birds are sitting on the island or skimming over the water.

I especially like this part for the setting and the variety of birds. You may see plenty of puffins, along with other seabirds such as black guillemots and gulls. The guides explain puffin behavior and the wider bird life around Reykjavík, so the trip is more than a quick boat ride to point at birds.

The main limitation is the viewing distance. One recent outing had a crowded boat, and passengers seated outside found it hard to hear the guide. Boat movement also makes phone photography tricky. Sit where you can hear the commentary, and treat photographs as a bonus rather than the main goal.

The puffin season is strongest during the warmer months, and late-season trips can still produce good numbers. One outing near the end of the season had plenty of birds, while another had birds visible but not especially close. The included puffin sighting guarantee is reassuring, but it should not be read as a promise of perfect weather, empty decks, or portrait-style photographs.

Whale watching in Faxaflói Bay

The classic whale tour runs on Andrea, described as Iceland’s largest whale-watching boat. It lasts about three to three and a half hours, with a cafeteria, indoor seating, and plenty of room to move around.

Andrea’s size has clear advantages. You have more space to spread out, a sheltered place to warm up, and a steady platform for listening to the guide. Families and anyone worried about feeling cramped will likely prefer it. Hot drinks and refreshments are not included, but you can buy them on board.

The classic cruise spends more time getting to and from the whale-watching area than the express option. That is the tradeoff for the larger, roomier boat. You may prefer the classic ride if comfort and indoor space matter more than getting offshore quickly.

The express whale boat leaves later and reaches the viewing area faster. The express portion lasts about two to two and a half hours, but you spend the same amount of time in the whale-watching area as you would on the longer classic schedule. The shorter total duration comes from the faster boat, not from cutting the search short.

Faxaflói Bay is home to several species commonly seen on these cruises:

• Minke whales, which can appear briefly and surface without much warning.
• Humpback whales, the showier possibility, sometimes surfacing, slapping fins, rolling, or showing their tails.
• White-beaked dolphins, which may travel beside the boat or appear in groups.
• Harbor porpoises, smaller and often harder to spot than dolphins.

Some outings produce a remarkable display. Humpbacks have been seen feeding close to the boat, breaching, rolling on their backs, waving their flukes, and slapping fins. One particularly busy trip produced more than 15 humpbacks and several minke whales. Those are exceptional conditions, not a standard promise.

Other days are quieter. You might see a blow, a tail, or a distant back before the animal disappears. That still counts as a real wildlife encounter, but it may not satisfy someone hoping for a documentary-style breach beside the boat.

The guides play a major part here. A good spotter tells you where to look, how a whale is likely to surface, and what behavior you are seeing. On one strong outing, Alex kept passengers pointed toward the action while explaining marine facts. Celine was praised for her energy and clear explanations about how to identify animals and understand their behavior. Those details help you enjoy a brief sighting instead of missing it while scanning the wrong patch of water.

Picking the right departure time

The schedule is worth checking before you pay. The listed combinations work like this:

• 9:00 AM: Classic whale watching first, followed by the Puffin Express at 12:30 PM.
• 10:00 AM: Express whale watching first, followed by the Puffin Express at 12:30 PM.
• 12:30 PM: Puffin Express first, followed by express whale watching at 2:00 PM.

The 10:00 AM departure is the most efficient choice if you want the fast boat and the two trips on the same day. The 9:00 AM option gives you the longer classic whale cruise and then the puffin trip. The 12:30 PM option lets you start with the shorter, more predictable puffin excursion.

Keep in mind that these are separate tours. You do not have to take both on one day, which is useful if you want to leave room for Reykjavík sightseeing or if the weather forecast looks better on another date. If your schedule allows, splitting them can also make the day feel less packed.

A short harbor changeover is built into the same-day plan. Allow enough time to return to the office, find the next boat, and collect yourself before the second departure.

Weather, seas, and the whale guarantee

Iceland’s weather is part of the decision. The captains decide whether to sail based on sea conditions, passenger safety, and comfort. A cruise can be changed or canceled if conditions are poor, even when the sky over Reykjavík looks fine.

The open bay can feel much rougher than the harbor. On one outing, the water became choppy during the journey to the whale area, and several people felt seasick. The crew had motion-sickness medicine available on another trip and offered free pills when rough conditions were expected.

Wear the supplied overalls over warm clothing, but do not treat them as a substitute for layers. Bring warm clothes and comfortable clothing, and use the indoor seating when you need a break from the wind. Waterproof outerwear is sensible even when the forecast looks promising.

The whale-watching guarantee is a practical safety net. If no whales are spotted, you receive another ticket for free. It does not guarantee a close encounter, a particular species, or a second trip with better weather. It does mean that a completely empty whale search does not have to be your only chance.

The puffin tour has a 100 percent sightings guarantee. That reflects the fact that the birds live around known breeding islands, but it still does not promise that they will be close to the boat or easy to photograph.

What the $153 price buys you

At $153 per person, this is not a budget harbor ride. The value comes from combining two separate tours, two boats, two guides, warm overalls, indoor seating, and puffin binoculars in one booking.

The whale trip is the more substantial part of the package. Andrea gives you a cafeteria, space to move, and a sheltered place to listen to the commentary. The express choice may also save time if you have a tight Reykjavík schedule.

The puffin trip adds a different kind of value. You get a small boat built for shallow water, access to the bird islands, a guide focused on local seabirds, and binoculars without needing to pack your own. If you have already seen puffins elsewhere in Iceland, this portion may feel expensive. If you have never seen them in the wild, it adds a memorable contrast to the whale cruise.

Hot drinks and snacks cost extra. That is a small but useful detail to remember, especially if you choose the early departure or expect to spend several hours outside.

I would consider the price fair for someone who specifically wants both whales and puffins and has only half a day. It is less compelling if you are interested in only one animal or if your budget is tight. Nature is unpredictable, so part of the price pays for the boats, guides, equipment, and chance to search, not a guaranteed wildlife performance.

Who will get the most from this cruise combo

Families should find the large Andrea practical, thanks to its space, indoor seating, and cafeteria. The puffin ride is short enough to hold a child’s attention, while the guides add stories and facts that make the birds easier to understand.

This also suits first-time wildlife watchers. You do not need to know the difference between a minke whale and a humpback before boarding. The guides point out what to watch for and explain why a tail, blow, or fin matters.

Photographers should set realistic expectations. Whales can appear suddenly, and puffins are small, fast, and often separated from the boat by water. Binoculars help you see more, but a phone may struggle with the distance and boat movement.

The tour is best from April through September, when whale-watching conditions and puffin activity are generally more favorable. Sightings may be less likely outside those months. Even in summer, the bay can be rough and animals can remain elusive.

I would be cautious about booking this as your final activity before an important flight or fixed appointment. Weather can affect the schedule, and wildlife trips do not always run like a museum visit with a predictable finish.

Should you book the Whales and Puffins Express?

Book it if you want a two-part marine wildlife day and can accept that the whale portion is a search, not a show. The puffins are the safer bet, while the whales offer the bigger emotional payoff when conditions line up.

Choose the 10:00 AM express departure if you want to reach the whale area quickly. Pick the 9:00 AM classic option if you value Andrea’s spacious boat and longer overall cruise. If you prefer a gentler start, begin with puffins at 12:30 PM.

I would skip the combo if you dislike boats, suffer badly in rough seas, or mainly want close-up wildlife photographs. For everyone else, the warm gear, strong guides, free whale retry, and contrast between Old Skúli and Andrea make this one of Reykjavík’s better ways to meet Iceland’s ocean life.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

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

How long does the combo tour take?

The advertised duration is four hours. The classic whale trip lasts about three to three and a half hours, while the express whale trip takes about two to two and a half hours. The puffin cruise lasts about one hour.

Can I take the puffin and whale tours on different days?

Yes. The two cruises are separate tours, so you do not have to take them on the same day.

What animals might I see?

Common whale-watching sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. The puffin cruise focuses on puffins and may also include other seabirds such as black guillemots and gulls.

What should I wear?

Bring warm clothing and comfortable clothes. The crew supplies warm overalls and offers indoor seating, but extra layers remain useful in Iceland’s cool, windy weather.

What happens if no whales appear?

You receive another whale-watching ticket for free if no whales are spotted. The tour still depends on suitable weather and sea conditions, and the guarantee does not promise a particular whale species or close encounter.