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

The best thing about this Reykjavik combo is the contrast: one boat carries you into open Faxafloi Bay in search of whales, while another circles the rocky island of Akurey to watch puffins and seabirds. You get two wildlife outings for one discounted price, and you can choose which one comes first.

I like the included binoculars and warm clothing, since Iceland’s wind can turn a pleasant cruise into a chilly one quickly. I also like the flexibility to choose the order of the tours, which makes it easier to fit the experience around your other plans.

The main caution is simple: these are wild animals, not performers. Some departures see humpbacks, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and large numbers of puffins. Others spend much of the trip searching. Puffins can also remain farther from the boat than you hope.

Key points before you book

• Two separate cruises from Reykjavik: You take a whale-watching trip and a shorter puffin cruise, usually on different boats.
• Akurey is viewed from the water: You circle the protected island rather than go ashore, using binoculars to study puffins and other birds.
• Whale sightings are never guaranteed: Minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and porpoises are possible, but a free return ticket is offered if no whales appear.
• Warmth is built into the experience: Whale-watch passengers receive warm overalls, while the puffin boat provides blankets and binoculars.
• The guides can make a big difference: Guides including Jo, Lucas, Blanca, and Patrick have been praised for sharp spotting and lively explanations.
• Reconfirm your sailing times: The operator requires you to check the exact cruise times before you go.

Two Reykjavik cruises, one wildlife outing

This is not one boat sailing around while someone points at birds. It is a package of two separate trips operated from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour area.

The total experience lasts about four and a half hours, though the exact timing depends on the day’s sailing schedule and the order you select. One cruise focuses on whales in Faxafloi Bay. The other is a shorter outing around Akurey, one of the small islands near Reykjavik where puffins gather during the nesting season.

That distinction matters. The whale boat is built for a longer trip into open water. The puffin boat is smaller and more intimate, but also has less room and can feel crowded when the passenger count is high.

You meet at Geirsgata 11, close to the Old Harbour and public transportation. If you choose hotel pickup, it can be arranged for an additional fee through the supplier. Without pickup, plan on reaching the meeting point yourself and leave enough time to confirm the pier and departure details.

The order of the cruises is a useful feature. If the whale trip runs first, you may return to the harbour and change boats for the puffin cruise after a short break. If the puffin cruise comes first, the longer whale trip follows. You must reconfirm the times, so do not treat the schedule shown at booking as the last word.

Watching puffins around Akurey

The puffin cruise is the shorter and more focused part of the package. You board a small boat and head toward Akurey, a rocky island that serves as a protected breeding area for puffins and other seabirds.

As you approach, the guide explains puffin behavior and body features. You may see birds sitting on the water, flying around the island, or returning with fish. The captain circles the island to offer several viewing angles, while you scan the rocks and sea with the provided binoculars.

The bird list can include Arctic terns, black guillemots, and northern fulmars, not just puffins. That turns the trip into a useful introduction to Icelandic seabirds rather than a single-species hunt.

The boat cannot take you onto the island. That is a good thing for the birds, even if it means you do not get a close walk through a puffin colony. The distance varies with sea conditions, tide, and the behavior of the birds. At times, puffins may be easy to spot. At others, you may see them mainly through binoculars or as they fly past.

This is where expectations matter most. You are not guaranteed a close portrait-style view of a puffin, and you should not expect to stand among the nesting birds. The outing is about watching a protected colony from the water with minimal disturbance.

Some departures have had only a few passengers, creating a quiet, personal ride. Other departures have felt busy on the small boat, with limited room for everyone to get the best viewing position. If close bird photography is your main goal, bring your own binoculars if you have them. The onboard supply is useful, but it may not provide one pair for every person at all times.

The puffin guide can shape the experience. Patrick has been singled out for mixing humor with clear explanations, while another crew team was praised for sharing useful facts without overloading the ride with talk. The quality of the commentary can vary by departure, but strong guides help you understand what you are looking at rather than simply telling you to look at the island.

Searching Faxafloi Bay for whales

The whale-watching cruise takes you farther from Reykjavik and into the open bay. Here, the guide and captain work together to scan the water for minke whales and humpback whales.

You might also see white-beaked dolphins and porpoises. Several successful outings have included dolphins even when no whale appeared, and some have produced a mix of humpbacks, minkes, and dolphins. A few humpbacks have stayed near the boat long enough for passengers to see tail slaps and repeated surfacing.

The best guides do more than shout a direction. Jo and Lucas have been praised for keeping the group informed and spotting animals quickly. Blanca has also been noted for pointing out whales, dolphins, and birds. When wildlife appears only briefly, a guide with a sharp eye can be the difference between seeing a back roll past and missing it entirely.

The trip is not a guaranteed show. You may see a blow, a fin, or a back moving through the water. You might see several animals close enough for good photographs. You might also spend the cruise scanning empty water and return with dolphins or seabirds as your main sightings.

If no whales are seen in Faxafloi Bay, the operator provides a complimentary ticket for another whale-watching cruise. That softens the risk, but it does not help much if your Iceland schedule is tight. Keep enough flexibility in your plans to use the return ticket if you want another attempt.

The whale cruise can also be physically demanding. Open water is often colder and rougher than the harbour, and one departure had conditions rough enough that staff handed out ginger candy and sick bags. Motion-sickness tablets may be available onboard, but it is sensible to prepare before sailing if you know you are prone to seasickness.

Boats, warmth, and comfort at sea

The whale-watching vessel is described as comfortable, with indoor seating, free Wi-Fi, and warm overalls. Snacks and drinks are not included, although food may be available for purchase on the whale boat. Bring your own water and a small snack if you do not want to rely on onboard options.

The supplied overalls are practical rather than stylish, but that is exactly what you need. Even a sunny day in June can feel cold and windy on the water. Wear warm layers underneath, along with a hat and gloves if you have them.

The puffin cruise has a warmer, cozier feel. A soft blanket is provided, and the smaller boat can bring you closer to Akurey than the large whale-watching vessel. The tradeoff is less space. If the boat is full, you may need to move carefully or accept that someone else has the best position for part of the ride.

The Special Tours App is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. The tours themselves are offered in English. Onboard commentary is an important part of the outing, so if you have difficulty understanding a guide’s accent or delivery, the app may provide useful added support.

How the timing affects your day

At about four and a half hours, this combo takes a good part of a morning or afternoon. Some schedules have included roughly three hours of whale watching followed by a short break and a one-hour puffin cruise. Other descriptions put the whale portion closer to two and a half hours, so confirm your actual departure times rather than planning around a fixed split.

The order can affect your energy and comfort. A whale cruise first gives you the longer ride while you are fresh, but a rough sea can leave you ready for solid ground. A puffin cruise first offers an easier start, followed by the longer trip.

You should avoid booking a tight lunch reservation, museum visit, or airport transfer immediately afterward. The animals control the pace, and the boat may need to spend extra time in an area when whales are active.

The meeting point is also the end point. Hotel transfers are not included in the listed price, but they can be purchased separately. That makes the basic fare attractive if you are staying near central Reykjavik or are comfortable walking or using public transportation.

Is $156.19 good value?

At $156.19 per person, this is not a cheap boat ride. It can still be a fair deal if you want both wildlife experiences and would otherwise book them separately.

The value is strongest when you see several types of wildlife. A successful day with humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, and puffins gives you a broad look at the bay and its bird colonies. Even a whale-free trip may include dolphins, porpoises, seabirds, and the pleasure of being out on the water.

The value is weaker if you are mainly paying for close-up puffin photographs. The puffin boat may get near Akurey, but you remain offshore, and the birds are not guaranteed to sit close to the boat. You might find the puffin portion too short or too distant if you have already seen puffins elsewhere in Iceland.

The package also saves you the trouble of arranging two separate outings. That is useful for a short Reykjavik stay. You get one booking, one operator, included binoculars, included whale-boat overalls, and a whale retry policy if the main target does not appear.

The discount does not change the basic wildlife bargain: you are paying for time on the bay and skilled searching, not a guaranteed animal encounter. I consider it reasonable for people who value the boat ride, scenery, guides, and chance of sightings as much as the photographs.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the combo to families, first-time visitors to Iceland, and anyone with one open half-day in Reykjavik. Children may especially enjoy the shorter puffin ride, which feels more immediate and easier to follow than a long search across open water.

It also suits people who want variety. The two boats, different habitats, and mix of marine mammals and seabirds keep the outing from becoming one long wait for a single whale.

You should think twice if you dislike boats, get severe motion sickness, or need guaranteed close wildlife views. The whale cruise can be rough, and the puffin boat can feel crowded. Photography-focused visitors may prefer to treat the trip as a chance to observe rather than a promise of perfect images.

The experience is offered in English, and most participants can take part. The maximum group size is 33 people, though the smaller puffin boat may still feel tight depending on the departure.

Practical preparation for a better cruise

Reconfirm both cruise times with Special Tours before the day of departure. This is especially important because the two parts may run in a different order and may not begin at the same time each day.

Wear warm clothes even if Reykjavik feels mild. The included overalls and blanket help, but wind on the bay can cut through light clothing.

Bring a camera, but do not build the whole day around getting a close-up animal shot. A whale may surface for only a few seconds, and puffins may stay on the far side of Akurey. Binoculars are included for the puffin cruise, and your own pair can be useful if you prefer not to share.

If you are sensitive to motion, ask about the available seasickness help and consider taking precautions before departure. Staff have provided motion-sickness pills, ginger candy, and sick bags, but rough water can still make the outing unpleasant.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The experience requires suitable weather, and if poor conditions cancel the sailing, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Should you book the puffin and whale combo?

Book it if you want a convenient two-part wildlife day and can accept uncertainty. The strongest reasons are the chance to see humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds in one outing, plus the bonus of a return whale ticket if the bay produces no whales.

I would give the puffin portion more modest expectations. You will circle Akurey, learn about puffin life, and may see many birds, but you will not go ashore or necessarily get close viewing. The whale trip offers the bigger potential payoff, while the puffin cruise adds a distinct Icelandic experience at a shorter length.

For $156.19, the package makes sense when your Reykjavik schedule is limited and you want both outings without arranging them separately. Bring warm layers, leave time for the sea to set the pace, and book it for the wildlife experience rather than a guaranteed photograph.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland, near public transportation. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Are hotel transfers included?

No. Hotel pickup and return are available to purchase separately through the supplier for an additional fee.

Can I choose which cruise comes first?

Yes. The experience offers flexibility to choose the order of the whale-watching and puffin cruises. You must reconfirm the exact cruise times with the supplier.

What wildlife might I see?

Possible sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, porpoises, puffins, Arctic terns, black guillemots, and northern fulmars. Wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

What happens if I do not see a whale?

If you do not spot any whales in Faxafloi Bay, you receive a complimentary ticket for another whale-watching cruise.

What is included on the boats?

The whale-watching cruise includes free Wi-Fi and warm overalls. The puffin cruise includes binoculars. A soft blanket is also provided on the puffin outing. Food and drinks are not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.