Reykjavik: Whale Watching Tour by RIB Boat

Wildlife watching gets a little wild here. This two-hour trip across Faxaflói Bay pairs fast RIB-boat travel with a real search for whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seabirds close to Reykjavik. I like the smaller, more agile boat, which can move quickly toward feeding activity, and I like that the ticket includes the Whales of Iceland Museum. The main catch is simple: wildlife is wild, and you may spend a long time searching or see only a few animals.

The boat reaches about 32 knots, so this is not a quiet cruise around the harbor. You get warm flotation overalls, a life vest, gloves, and goggles, but I would still wear warm layers underneath. The ride can bounce and spray, and the tour is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, or anyone shorter than 140 centimeters.

This trip costs $194 per person, which is a serious price for two hours. I think it makes the most sense for you if the boat itself sounds exciting and you want a small-group wildlife outing rather than a slow ride on a large whale-watching vessel.

Key points to know before you book

• The RIB reaches 32 knots: You get a thrilling ride to Faxaflói Bay, not a gentle harbor cruise.
• Shock-suspension seats soften the ride: They help, but the boat can still bounce in rougher water.
• Whales are not guaranteed: Sightings have included minke whales, humpbacks, dolphins, and porpoises, but some trips find few whales.
• Akurey is a summer stop: You may see puffins, nests, and pufflings during the breeding season.
• Warm gear is included: Overalls, life vests, gloves, and goggles help with Iceland’s cold wind and spray.
• Museum admission adds value: Your ticket also covers the Whales of Iceland Museum in Reykjavik’s Grandi harbor district.

Leaving Reykjavik for Faxaflói Bay

You meet at the operator’s ticket office at Ægisgarður 5E, in Reykjavik’s harbor area. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way to the marina before departure.

The outing lasts two hours from the harbor and is conducted in English. The first part gives you views back toward Reykjavik’s coastline, then the boat heads into Faxaflói Bay. The change is quick. One moment you are near the city, and the next you are out on open water with wind, spray, and a wide horizon.

That speed is one of the biggest reasons to choose this trip. A RIB can cover ground quickly and react when the guide spots birds, dolphins, or signs of whale activity. Several trips have reached feeding areas faster than larger boats, leaving more time to watch animals instead of simply traveling toward them.

The trade-off is comfort. Even with special suspension seats, you should expect a lively ride. The seats are designed to reduce the hard jolts, and one description compared them to a saddle with a handle in front. That setup gives you something to hold and helps you stay secure, but it does not turn the boat into a smooth glass-bottom vessel.

If you dislike speed, bouncing, or open-water spray, this may not be your ideal whale tour. If you like a little adrenaline with your wildlife, the ride becomes part of the attraction.

How the suspension seats and warm suits work

Before boarding, the crew provides warm flotation suits, life vests, gloves, and goggles. The suit matters. Even on a clear summer day, the wind at speed can feel sharp, and the boat throws spray from the bow.

I would wear a thermal base layer, warm trousers, and sturdy shoes under the supplied gear. One person specifically found the suits useful even in sunny August conditions, while another advised adding extra layers because it still gets cold at sea. The goggles are worth using, especially when the boat is moving quickly.

The suspension seats are a strong feature for this type of boat. They absorb some of the movement as the RIB crosses the water, which can make the ride easier on your body than you might expect. Still, the tour is officially unsuitable for people with back problems, and that warning deserves attention.

You will also need to be at least 140 centimeters tall. The height rule likely relates to fitting the safety equipment and sitting securely in the boat. Children under 10 cannot join, and pregnant women should choose another activity.

The crew’s safety approach receives frequent praise. Captains make the final call on sailing based on weather, sea conditions, passenger safety, and comfort. A poor-weather postponement is frustrating, but it is the sensible choice for a fast boat in Icelandic waters.

Searching the feeding grounds for whales

Once you reach Faxaflói Bay, the pace changes. The captain slows while the guide scans the water and watches for seabirds, blows, fins, and unusual movement. The bay is a feeding area, so birds can help point the crew toward active water.

The exact sighting can vary a lot. Trips have produced minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Some outings have seen several minke whales, a group of humpbacks, or dolphins staying with the boat for ten minutes. One particularly memorable trip included a mother and young humpback, while another saw a whale breach twice.

But you should not book this expecting a guaranteed close-up encounter. On some outings, the boat takes time to find a whale. On others, the sightings are brief or distant. One trip saw dolphins but no whales, and another had only a few glimpses of a humpback before a curious young minke stayed near the boat.

That uncertainty is part of the deal. You are looking for wild animals in their own environment, not visiting an aquarium with scheduled performances. A fast RIB improves your chances of reaching activity quickly, but it cannot make whales appear.

The guide adds real value during the search. Guides including Rebecca, Rebekka, Joel, Patrik, Alice, Daniel, Eva, and Iris have been praised for their energy, clear explanations, and enthusiasm for marine life. Joel, for example, pointed out unusual birds as well as whales. Rebecca was singled out for keeping the mood lively while explaining what the group was seeing.

I like this mix of speed and interpretation. Without a guide, a whale-watching trip can become a cold exercise in staring at empty water. A good guide gives you clues about what to watch for and helps turn a distant fin or blow into a meaningful sighting.

What the whale encounters can look like

A minke whale may appear as a quick dark back, a small blow, or a brief glimpse before it slips below the surface. Humpbacks offer more dramatic possibilities, including tail slaps, flipper slaps, breaches, and long periods of feeding.

You might spend an hour watching one humpback work the bay, as one outing did. Or you might see several animals in short appearances. The RIB’s low profile can make the connection feel more immediate because you are closer to the water than you would be on a large ship.

That closeness should not be mistaken for a guarantee of constant action. The boat still needs to respect the animals and give them space. The captain’s maneuvering is part of the skill of the experience, especially when a whale changes direction or a pod of dolphins appears.

Dolphins can provide a welcome lift when whale sightings are slow. White-beaked dolphins have been seen jumping beside the boat, swimming against it, and staying nearby for several minutes. Porpoises have also appeared, though they can be harder to spot because they are smaller and less showy.

You may also see marine birds during the search. Guides have pointed out rare birds and other species along the way, which makes the ride worthwhile even when the largest animals remain hidden.

Akurey and the summer puffin stop

During the summer breeding season, the boat stops near Akurey, an island used by nesting puffins. You can look toward the nests and watch puffins moving around the coast. Several outings have also reported pufflings, which are young puffins.

This stop gives the tour a useful second focus. If whales are slow to appear, you still have a chance to see one of Iceland’s best-loved seabirds. The stop is not necessarily long, however. One person wished for more time around the puffins, so you should treat it as a short wildlife visit rather than a full bird-watching session.

Puffins are seasonal here. The included stop applies during the summer months, not throughout the year. Outside the breeding season, the tour focuses more on the bay’s whales, dolphins, porpoises, and other birdlife.

The island also adds variety to the route. You are not simply racing out to one location and returning. You are reading the bay as a living place, with nesting birds near the coast and feeding marine animals farther offshore.

Why the small boat changes the experience

The main difference between this outing and a large whale-watching ship is the boat itself. The RIB carries fewer people than the big vessels, and the low seating position gives you a more direct view of the water.

A smaller boat can turn and move toward an active area more easily. Guides have used that advantage to reach dolphins quickly and to position the boat near whales. You also avoid standing behind a crowd at a rail or trying to find an open viewing spot on a packed upper deck.

The cost is less space and less shelter. On a larger ship, you can usually walk around, move inside, or take a break from the wind. On the RIB, you remain in your seat for the ride and need to be comfortable with the weather.

The experience has been compared to a roller coaster combined with nature watching. That is a fair description. You get speed, bouncing, spray, and the anticipation of searching the water, followed by quiet moments when everyone watches a whale surface.

I would choose the RIB for a more active outing, especially if you have already taken a standard whale cruise. If this is your first trip on open water and you prefer calm sightseeing, the faster format may feel like too much.

The Whales of Iceland Museum after the boat

Your ticket includes admission to the Whales of Iceland Museum in the Grandi harbor district. You can visit after the boat trip and see displays about Atlantic whale species, whale biology, migration, and conservation.

The museum is especially useful because it gives scale to what you have just seen. A whale’s back can appear briefly at the surface, but a full-size exhibit helps you understand how large these animals really are.

I also like this included visit as a backup for a quiet afternoon. If the sea gives you only distant sightings, the museum still gives you a fuller look at the animals and their lives. If you have a spectacular outing with breaches and dolphins, the exhibits help put those moments into context.

Because the museum is in Reykjavik’s Grandi harbor district, it fits naturally into a day around the waterfront. Meals and drinks are not included, so plan those separately.

Is $194 a fair price for two hours?

At $194 per person, this is not a budget activity. You are paying for the specialized RIB, suspension seating, protective gear, captain, guide, a fast trip into Faxaflói Bay, and museum admission.

The value depends on what you want from whale watching. If you only want the cheapest way to get on the water, this price will feel high. If you want a small boat, quick movement, a more exciting ride, and the chance to get closer to wildlife than a large ship allows, the price becomes easier to justify.

The two-hour duration is efficient for a short Reykjavik stay. You do not lose half a day to a long excursion, and the tour can fit neatly into a day of harbor sightseeing. On the other hand, two hours does not leave unlimited time for searching. If the animals are far away, a large part of the outing may pass while the crew looks for signs of activity.

The museum ticket helps, but I would not book the tour for the museum alone. The boat and the search for wildlife are the real reasons to pay this rate.

Who should book this RIB tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• You enjoy fast boats and do not mind a bumpy ride.
• You want a smaller boat rather than a large sightseeing vessel.
• You are comfortable with uncertain wildlife sightings.
• You want both whales and a chance to see dolphins, porpoises, and puffins.
• You have limited time in Reykjavik and prefer a two-hour activity.
• You are at least 10 years old and 140 centimeters tall.
• You have no back problems and are not pregnant.

I would hesitate if you are prone to motion discomfort, dislike cold wind, or want a slow, quiet cruise. The suspension seats help, but they do not remove the movement. You should also avoid booking too tightly around a flight or another fixed appointment, even though one outing finished in time for a passenger to catch a flight.

The free-cancellation policy gives you some flexibility if plans change, with cancellation allowed up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Weather can also change the schedule, since the captain decides if conditions are safe and comfortable.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want whale watching with a pulse. The strongest parts are the quick RIB, the suspension seats, the warm gear, the small-group feel, and guides who clearly enjoy explaining the animals.

Do not book it expecting guaranteed humpback whales or a calm ride. You may see a spectacular breach, several whales, dolphins beside the boat, and puffins at Akurey. You may also spend time searching and finish with only distant sightings.

For me, the $194 price works best when you value the whole experience, not just the number of whales seen. The boat ride, coastline views, wildlife search, summer puffin stop, and museum entry make this a strong choice for an active visitor who accepts nature’s uncertainty.

FAQ

Where does the whale-watching tour meet?

You meet at the local tour operator’s ticket office at Ægisgarður 5E, 101 Reykjavik.

How long does the tour last?

The RIB boat tour lasts two hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guide and tour information are provided in English.

How fast does the RIB boat travel?

The boat reaches a comfortable cruising speed of about 32 knots.

Is whale watching guaranteed?

No. Whale sightings depend on wild animals and sea conditions. The tour may also see dolphins, porpoises, seabirds, and puffins.

What animals might I see?

Possible sightings include minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, puffins, and other marine birds.

Can I see puffins on every departure?

No. The puffin nesting stop at Akurey takes place during the summer breeding season.

What equipment is included?

The tour provides warm overalls, life vests, gloves, and goggles.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The tour is not suitable for children under 10 years old.

Is the Whales of Iceland Museum included?

Yes. Admission to the Whales of Iceland Museum in Reykjavik’s Grandi harbor district is included.