Reykjavik: Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

Reykjavik can feel like a wildlife documentary, fast. This 4-hour whales and puffins combo pairs a close-up puffin outing from the Old Harbor with a second cruise into Faxaflói Bay for whales and dolphins. I really like the fact that you get warm, waterproof overalls plus inside seating, so you spend less time thinking about the cold and more time watching.

I also like the puffin part on the small boat Skúlaskeið (Old Skúli). Its shallow draft helps it get nearer the smaller islands where puffins live, and that translates into better viewing (and more satisfying photos) even if the puffins keep their own pace. The main consideration is that whale sightings depend on conditions. The crew decides whether to sail based on weather, and on slower wildlife days you may get fewer whale moments, even with the free re-try option.

This tour is basically two separate experiences stitched together in one morning or afternoon. You start at Reykjavík’s Old Harbor area, meet at the Special Tours office, then you do one cruise focused on puffins, and a second cruise focused on whales in Faxaflói Bay. It is a smart way to pack in two Iceland wildlife hits without turning your day into a long logistics marathon.

The payoff is variety. Puffins are all personality, with noisy island behavior that is fun even if you only catch a glimpse between flights. Whales are the big-league part. In Faxaflói Bay, you are commonly looking for minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises. And when humpbacks decide to put on a show, you see why this coastline has such a fan base.

Before you go, set expectations correctly. Iceland wildlife tours are weather and animal dependent. You are not buying a guaranteed ocean spectacle. You are buying access, guidance, warm gear, and a plan that tries hard to put you in the right place at the right time.

• Warm overalls and inside seating keep you comfortable during both boat parts.
• Skúlaskeið (Old Skúli) is designed for close puffin viewing with a shallow draft.
• Andrea whale boat style means spacious, family-friendly cruising plus onboard basics like a cafeteria.
• Binoculars are part of the puffin plan, because puffins are small and phone zoom is not magic.
• There is a 100% puffin sightings guarantee, which removes a lot of the stress.
• If whales are not spotted, you get a free ticket to try again, so the whale portion has a safety net too.

Your starting point is the Special Tours office in Reykjavík’s Old Harbor. This matters because you are not driving across town, parking, or wasting half your morning on transit. The Old Harbor area is built for quick check-ins, and the flow is simple: you get oriented, meet your guide, and then get on the water.

From there, expect the day to feel like a compact itinerary with a transfer between the two cruise styles. One theme that shows up in real bookings: people experience it as two distinct legs with a quick changeover back at the harbor. That is actually a benefit. You get a true puffin outing, then you switch into a bigger whale-watching setup without dragging your feet between activities.

If you want a smooth experience, arrive with time to spare for winter-style gear changes. You will likely be handed overalls, and you want a minute to fit them right before you head out into the wind.

The puffin portion uses a smaller boat named Skúlaskeið (Old Skúli). The big practical advantage is its shallow draft. Translation: you can reach the smaller islands where puffins gather, without forcing the boat to stay too far out. In plain terms, this usually means more puffins in your view, not just puffins as tiny dots on the horizon.

You also benefit from two comfort choices. First, the tour provides warm overalls. Second, there is inside seating so you can warm up if the breeze picks up. Several bookings highlight that the overalls do what you want them to do. They keep you warm and dry enough that you actually stick around on the deck to watch behavior, instead of constantly heading inside.

What about the puffin viewing itself? This is not a “reach out and touch” situation. Rules keep wildlife at a respectful distance, and sometimes the birds choose where they fly or land. But puffin colonies are active, and you can often see them flying around the island, diving, and calling. One booking even describes the puffin island as having a giant colony where the noise and action are part of the spectacle.

Two practical tips I would follow:

• Bring your phone, but plan to rely on binoculars for real detail.
• Keep your expectations realistic for distance. Some groups get very close viewing, while others end up seeing puffins more at range depending on where the boat is positioned and how birds move.

The puffin guides are a major reason this combo works. Multiple bookings mention guides who are funny, upbeat, and clear about what you are seeing and why it matters. Names that come up include Patrick (for the puffins) and Celine, both described as energetic and easy to engage with.

You will likely get:

• Help spotting puffins among the birds
• Explanations of behavior, like how they use island areas for activity
• Guidance on where to look next, so you do not waste time scanning aimlessly

One practical point from real experience: puffins can be hard to photograph with cell phones. Binoculars help you see posture, movement, and patterns, and that makes it easier to time your shots when a bird passes closer. If you care about photography, this is where the binoculars pay off more than once.

Also, do not be surprised if you hear about local sea birds beyond puffins. Some bookings note black guillimots and other seabirds showing up alongside the main colony.

After the puffin leg, you head out for whales. The whale cruise is operated on the Andrea boat for the classic whale watching. The Andrea is described as the biggest whale-watching boat in Iceland, with an educational and interactive style plus onboard cafeteria options. In real terms, that means you are not packed like sardines in a tiny tin can. You have room to stand, sit, and wait without feeling trapped.

What you are watching for in Faxaflói Bay:

• Minke whales
• Humpback whales
• White-beaked dolphins
• Harbor porpoises

And the way whales show up is often dramatic when you get lucky. Bookings describe humpbacks breeching, swimming on their backs, waving flukes, and doing fin slapping. Dolphins can swim right alongside the boat, and sometimes you get that feeling that the water is alive with movement, not just wildlife in theory.

If you do not want to spend time traveling, the express whale option can help. You can switch to the express tour on a faster boat that gets you out quicker. The key detail is that the time in the whale watching area stays similar, just with less waiting in transit.

One more “keep your eyes open” note. While it is not something I would count on, at least one booking describes a special bonus stop en route back during the puffin portion to watch orcas. That kind of add-on is exactly why I like tours that actually follow wildlife, not just a strict script.

This combo is offered with different departure orders. You are basically choosing when you want your puffins and when you want your whales. Here are the three main sequences:

• 9:00 AM classic whale watching, then puffin express at 12:30 PM
• 10:00 AM express whale watching, then puffin express at 12:30 PM
• 12:30 PM puffin express first, then express whale watching at 2:00 PM

Why this matters: you want the light and energy that fits your trip. If you are an early riser, the morning starts can feel smoother. If you want an easier start after sleep or breakfast, the afternoon puffin-first option can work well.

It also affects the boat mix. The express whale option is shorter in total time for the whale portion, listed as 2 to 2.5 hours for the whale watching, while still allowing plenty of time in the whale area. That is helpful if you get seasick easily or you simply do not want a long open-ocean window.

Iceland sea weather has a way of doing two things at once: it looks calm, then it reminds you that wind exists. This tour helps a lot with gear. You get warm overalls from the crew, and you can stay inside for warmth when needed.

But you still should show up with:

• Warm clothing
• Comfortable clothes

If you run cold fast, wear layers you can adjust. If you run warm fast, do not rely on one big coat. Overalls plus a layered system helps you control comfort, so you stay out longer when something appears.

Two practical comfort notes from bookings:

• Waterproof overalls were called out as keeping people warm and dry during whale viewing.
• Some boats can get bouncy. One older booking notes sea sickness pills being offered, so it helps to be prepared mentally that you might need a plan if the ocean turns.

For photography and wildlife viewing, keep this in mind: wind affects camera steadiness, and rocking affects shot timing. If your priority is photos, treat binocular time as part of the viewing process, not a backup. Use binoculars to track behavior, then switch to your camera when a bird or whale comes within reach.

This combo tour includes two different “safety nets,” and they are worth understanding.

1) Puffin part: 100% sightings guarantee

The tour includes a 100% sightings guarantee for the puffin tour. That is the big reason the puffin leg feels less stressful. It is also why this combo makes sense for short stays. You are much more likely to leave with puffins in your photos, not just puffins in your imagination.

2) Whale part: free re-try if nothing is spotted

If no whales are spotted on the tour, you get another ticket for free. That does not create certainty, but it reduces the risk enough that you can book without spiraling into worst-case thinking.

Also remember: captains make real-time calls based on weather for passenger safety and comfort. That is not a marketing line. It is part of how whale watching works in Iceland, where waves and wind can change quickly.

So if you are booking with a tight schedule, I would mentally treat the whales as the “chance to get the big show,” while the puffins are the “high-probability highlight.”

At $153 per person for a 4-hour combo, the math depends on what you would otherwise pay and what you care about.

You are not just paying for two boat rides. You are paying for:

• Guides on both tours
• Warm overalls and inside seating
• Binoculars for puffin viewing
• A 100% sightings guarantee for puffins
• A second layer of protection on whales via a free re-try if nothing is spotted

If you tried to book two separate activities on your own, you would likely spend similar money once you add gear, guided spotting, and the time savings of one organized combo. This also matters if you have limited time in Reykjavik. Two wildlife targets, one half-day block, less juggling.

That said, value is not only about price. It is about fit. If you are the kind of traveler who gets grumpy on boats, wants a guaranteed whale show, or dislikes cold weather, this may not be your best use of time. But if you like wildlife, you want both birds and whales without a full day, and you appreciate a guide who helps you find what is out there, it is strong value.

This tour fits best if:

• You want both puffins and whales without committing to a full day
• You like guided wildlife viewing, where someone helps you spot and interpret behavior
• You value comfort solutions like warm overalls and inside seating
• You are traveling in summer months, ideally April to September, when spotting odds are best

It also makes sense for families. The whale boat Andrea is described as family-friendly and spacious, with onboard basics like a cafeteria.

It may be less ideal if you want a guaranteed close-up. Even with the small boat approach for puffins, wildlife has its own rules. And whale sightings can be shy on some days. The guide and weather plan can only do so much.

Yes, I would book it if your priorities are puffins plus whales in half a day, and you appreciate practical comfort. The strongest reason to choose it is the pairing: puffins are handled with a 100% sightings guarantee, and the whales come with a free re-try if they do not show. Add the warm overalls, binocular support for puffins, and guides who clearly know how to help you watch, and the odds of coming away happy are high.

Skip it only if you are highly sensitive to boat motion or you know you cannot handle cold weather clothing layers. Otherwise, plan for variable wildlife days, dress for wind, and keep your eyes open. When Faxaflói Bay gives you humpbacks, it can be a day you remember for a long time.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the Reykjavik whales and puffins combo tour?

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

How long is the combo tour?

The tour is listed as 4 hours total.

What is included with the puffin part and the whale part?

Included highlights are warm inside seating, warm overalls, binoculars for the puffin tour, guides on both tours, and a 100% sightings guarantee for the puffin tour.

Are hot drinks and refreshments included?

No. Hot drinks and refreshments are available for purchase.

Is there a guarantee that you will see whales?

The tour information includes a 100% sightings guarantee for the puffin tour. For whales, if nothing is spotted on the tour, you get another ticket for free to try again.

What should I bring to stay comfortable on the water?

Bring warm clothing and comfortable clothes.

Do the puffins and whales happen on the same boat?

No. This is two separate tours. You do a puffin cruise on Skúlaskeið and a whale cruise on a different boat (Andrea for the classic whale option, with an express alternative).

What animals are commonly spotted during the whale cruise?

Common sights in Faxaflói Bay include minke whales, humpback whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbor porpoises.

When is the best time to book this kind of wildlife cruise in Iceland?

The best time for whale watching is during the summer months, from April to September. Chances may be lower at other times of the year.