Fast boats, slow giants.

This 2-hour RIB whale watching tour from Reykjavik is one of the best ways to cover distance fast in Faxaflói Bay, so you spend more time looking and less time waiting. I love the new 12m custom-built RIB and the shock-absorbing seats that make a bouncy ride more bearable, and I love how the expert guide work boosts your chances of finding active wildlife. One fair drawback: this is an open-sea RIB ride, so if you have a bad back or get rattled easily, the speed and waves can be tough.

You get warm overalls plus life jacket, gloves, and goggles, so you can focus on the water, not your layers. If you’re in Reykjavik during summer puffin season, you’ll also visit Akurey, a popular puffin nesting island, and that gives you a second reason to bring your camera.

Keep expectations real: whale and dolphin sightings can’t be guaranteed. The good news is that if you don’t see wildlife on your trip, you can get a complimentary ticket to try again on other whale watching tours.

Quick hits before you book

• 12 travelers max means more time watching, less time standing around
• Shock-absorbing seats make the RIB ride more stable than you might expect
• Expert guidance in English helps you target feeding areas and active sightings
• Akurey puffin stop in summer adds variety beyond whales and dolphins
• If you have no wildlife sighting, you get a complimentary ticket to try again

Check-in at Old Harbour: where your tour really starts

This tour starts in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour area, at Ægisgarður 5. You may be offered hotel pickup if you select that option, but either way you end up at the same place for check-in: the Special Tours ticket office in the Old Harbour.

Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early. That buffer matters because you’ll check in, then gear up. This is also when you’ll hear the guide’s safety information before boarding, so you’re not rushing in cold wind with gloves half on.

Gear handling is part of the experience here. You’ll put on warm waterproof overalls, plus a life vest, gloves, and goggles. Even if you’re dressed for Iceland, this extra layer is what makes the ride practical. If you’re the kind of person who always feels underdressed in the wind, this tour’s setup will feel like a relief.

Inside the new RIB: speed, shock seats, and what the sea feels like

The boat is a brand-new 12m custom-built RIB express boat, designed for speed and stability. The big comfort detail is the suspension-style seats with shock absorption. That matters because RIBs tend to skip across waves, and without suspension seats your body feels every hit.

In reviews, the ride gets described as fast and sometimes quite bumpy, especially when conditions are rough. That matches the reality of Faxaflói Bay: it can be windy, and the boat can move at real speed out there. In one account, the crew mentioned speeds close to 30 knots, which helps explain why you feel the motion more than on a big ferry.

So here’s the balancing act:

• The speed is what helps you reach whale areas quickly and keep hunting.
• The tradeoff is that this is not a gentle cruise. If you have a heart condition, trouble with backs/joints, or limited mobility, I’d think hard before booking.

Also note the age and height limits: it’s not recommended for children under 10 or under 145 cm. If your group includes teens or adults with any sensitivity to rough rides, bring that up during decision time. This is the type of tour where “I can handle a boat” can turn into “I didn’t expect the bouncing.”

Chasing whales in Faxaflói Bay: species you might spot and how the guide matters

Once you leave the Old Harbour, the tour heads out toward whale feeding grounds in Faxaflói Bay. On the way, you’ll also pass impressive scenery, including views of Esja mountain, and you’ll get a front-row seat to how Reykjavik sits right next to open sea.

The wildlife target list is clear. You’re there for humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises. You’ll also see other seabirds around the bay as you travel.

The reason people book this specific style of RIB tour is simple: a fast boat helps you cover the bay while an expert guide helps you know where to look. When things click, you don’t just spot a whale at a distance. In one of the stronger stories, the captain and guide worked a long follow on humpbacks, with a view of tail and flukes, while dolphins stayed active nearby.

A detail worth caring about: this operator follows responsible wildlife practices (the crew specifically mentioned following the IceWhale code of conduct). That means they’re not treating this like a chase-and-starve game. You should still expect excitement and speed, but with rules that keep the focus on animals, not crowds.

And keep this expectation grounded: wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. That’s not a sales trick; it’s how whale watching works in Iceland. The silver lining is what happens if you come back without wildlife.

Akurey puffin stop in summer: short walk, big payoff

If you’re traveling in summer, you’ll stop at Akurey, one of the most popular puffin nesting islands. This is the part of the tour that adds variety. You’re still in the wildlife world, but the experience shifts from open-sea tracking to a land-and-boat viewpoint where seabirds are the focus.

Puffins can be tricky to see well from far away, even when there are lots of them. One review described how the puffins were hard to spot at distance. So if puffin photos are your priority, I’d treat Akurey as a bonus stop rather than something you can fully control like a museum visit. You might get excellent views, or you might mainly catch movement and flashes as they cross the water and perches.

Still, even a partial puffin sighting here feels special because it’s tied to the seasonal rhythm: puffins nesting in Iceland is why this stop exists at all. If you like combining whales with another Iceland nature moment on the same clock, Akurey is a strong reason to choose this particular tour format.

The return cruise: Reykjavík coastline time and camera opportunities

On the way back, you’ll see the Reykjavík coastline again from the water. That matters because Reykjavik can look like a city island—sea on one side, mountains not far off—and the coastline view turns into a different kind of sightseeing when you’re actually out on the bay.

If you’re the type who likes to take photos, this part is often where you get the best mix: sea, coastline, and the general sense of where you are. Bring a camera you can handle with cold fingers, even with the included gloves. The sea spray and wind don’t ask permission.

Timing-wise, remember this is a 2-hour tour, so your window for both whale tracking and the Akurey stop is limited. That’s one reason the RIB format works: you don’t spend hours commuting to some distant point. You spend hours in the zone where the bay’s life is active.

Price and value: does $189.87 make sense for 2 hours?

At about $189.87 per person for a roughly 2-hour tour, this is not the cheapest thing you can do in Reykjavik. But the value isn’t just the “whale watching” headline. It’s what you get around the experience.

Here’s what’s included:

• Warm waterproof overalls, life vest, gloves, and goggles
• An English-speaking expert guide
• Suspension seats for comfort
• A stop at Akurey in summer

There’s also a practical value hook. If you leave without seeing wildlife, you receive a complimentary ticket to try again on the Whale Watching Classic or Whale Watching Express tours. That turns the biggest downside of whale watching—bad luck—into something you can respond to.

One more value point: small-group size. With a maximum of 12 travelers, you’re more likely to keep viewing lines and less likely to feel packed in. That can matter when dolphins pop up and whales surface quickly.

If you’re the kind of traveler who wants a high chance at seeing something exciting and you don’t mind a brisk, bouncy ride, the price starts to feel more reasonable. If you only want a relaxed nature cruise, you might decide a calmer boat style fits you better.

A few real-world tour details to watch for

This experience is mostly praised for safety, comfort gear, and close wildlife encounters. In several accounts, the captain and guide are singled out by name, including Yoda (captain) and Blanca (guide), and a lead guide named Jonathan. When the crew is good, you feel it in how fast they locate activity and how calmly they manage the boat around sightings.

A couple of practical cautions show up too, and they’re worth taking seriously:

• The ride can get bouncy in rougher conditions, and that’s not a minor detail for people with back or joint problems.
• The changing/check-in building can feel cramped if lots of people arrive at once, so the early arrival is more than a suggestion.
• One critical comment complained about rude or impatient guidance and limited safety demonstration beyond the usual talk. That kind of feedback is the exception, but it’s a reminder to speak up if you don’t understand something before you board.

Bottom line: if you show up early, take the safety speech seriously, and dress like Iceland is trying to cool you down on purpose, you’ll stack the odds in your favor.

Who should book this RIB whale watch from Reykjavik

This tour fits best if you:

• Want a fast boat ride so you can cover more water searching for active animals
• Like a small-group experience (max 12)
• Are excited by close encounters, especially with dolphins that sometimes stay near the boat during active moments
• Travel during summer and want the Akurey puffin island add-on

You should think twice if you:

• Have a heart condition or a bad back (the ride can be jarring)
• Struggle with mobility; getting into the RIB may be difficult if you have limited movement
• Are traveling with kids under 10 or under 145 cm (not recommended)

If you’re an energetic adult with a moderate fitness level, you’ll likely feel right at home. And if you’re visiting Iceland and this is on your must-do list, do it sooner rather than later in your schedule. Weather can change, and you’ll want flexibility.

Should you book this tour, or choose a slower option?

I’d book this RIB whale watching tour if your main goal is to maximize time in the bay with an efficient boat and a crew that tracks actively. The combination of new RIB, shock-absorbing seats, and included cold-weather gear is a strong practical package, not just a marketing promise.

If you’re sensitive to bumpy rides or you need a calmer outing, consider it carefully. In that case, the speed that makes RIB whale watching effective can also be the part that feels hardest on your body.

My decision rule is simple: if you can handle a brisk open-sea ride and you want the best shot at whales and dolphins from Reykjavik, this one belongs on your list.

FAQ

How long is the 2-Hour RIB Boat Whale Watching Tour?

It runs for about 2 hours.

What animals can you see on the tour?

The tour targets humpback whales, minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, and harbour porpoises. In summer, you also visit Akurey for puffins.

Where do you meet for the tour?

The meeting point is the Special Tours ticket office in the Old Harbour at Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel transfers are not included, but hotel pickup can be added for an additional fee if you select that option.

What waterproof gear and safety equipment are included?

You get warm overalls, life vests, gloves, and goggles.

Are whale sightings guaranteed?

No. Wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed. If there are no sightings on your tour, you get a complimentary ticket to try again on their Whale Watching Classic or Whale Watching Express tours.

How big is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Is this tour suitable for children?

It is not recommended for children under age 10 or under 145 cm.

What if the tour is canceled due to bad weather?

If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I get a full refund if I cancel?

Yes, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Canceling less than 24 hours before start time is not refunded.

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