Whales and Puffins Tour from Husavik

The best part of this 3.5-hour boat trip is the mix of wildlife. You begin near Puffin Island, home to roughly 100,000 puffins during breeding season, then head into Skjálfandi Bay to search for whales, dolphins, porpoises, and more seabirds. The setting is grand, but the appeal is simple: you are out on the water, watching wild animals behave on their own terms.

I like two things right away. First, the route gives you two very different sightings in one outing: noisy puffin colonies close to shore, followed by open-water whale watching. Second, the crew makes the cold easier with warm overalls, light refreshments, and a particularly welcome finish of hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun.

The main consideration is that nature sets the schedule. You may see six whales, ten whales, dolphins, and huge numbers of puffins, or you may get only brief glimpses. A few visitors also felt the boat did not get close enough to Puffin Island, and poor sea conditions can lead to a cancellation or a last-minute change that removes the puffin portion.

Key points before you book

• Puffin Island is seasonal: Puffins return around the end of April and leave around mid-August, so this combined tour is not offered after August 15.
• Skjálfandi Bay has varied wildlife: Humpback whales, Minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, porpoises, and, early in summer, blue and fin whales may be seen.
• The tour lasts about three and a half hours: The boat returns to the same Húsavík meeting point.
• Cold-weather gear is supplied: Warm overalls, hot chocolate, and a cinnamon bun make a real difference on the water.
• The group can reach 75 people: This is not a small private cruise, although the crew works to direct everyone toward sightings.
• Wildlife is never promised: The strongest outings can be extraordinary, but whales may surface only briefly or stay farther from the boat.

Leaving Húsavík for Puffin Island

Your meeting point is the North Sailing Húsavík Whale Watching office on Garðarsbraut, in the harbor area. The activity ends back there, which makes planning easy if you are staying in town or driving in for the day.

Allow time to find parking and check in. Parking in Húsavík is free, but the harbor can get busy, and older signs may cause confusion. The check-in time is 30 minutes before departure, so read your confirmation carefully rather than arriving at the last minute.

Once aboard, you will receive warm overalls. Keep your own warm layers underneath, since Icelandic weather can change quickly and the boat is exposed to wind even on a calm day. The supplied gear is one of the tour’s practical strengths. People of different ages, including children and older adults, have found the boat ride comfortable when dressed properly.

The boat carries up to 75 people. That gives the crew enough capacity to run a popular outing, but it also means you should not expect the quiet feel of a private wildlife expedition. Your best view may depend on moving around the viewing areas and listening closely when the crew directs you toward an animal.

The guide may be multilingual, though English is the listed language of the experience. Expect commentary about the bay, the animals, and conservation, with the crew pointing out where to look. On a whale trip, that guidance matters. A whale can surface behind you, appear for two seconds, or show only the top of its back.

Puffin Island and the summer colony

The first wildlife stop is Puffin Island, near one of Iceland’s largest puffin colonies. During breeding season, around 100,000 puffins may be found there. You will see birds nesting on the island and flying over the water, with the exact closeness and detail depending on the route, sea conditions, and the birds themselves.

This is a lovely introduction to the tour because puffins bring energy to the scene. They are small, quick, and easy to miss if you look only at the island. Watch the water and the air around the colony as well as the rocky nesting areas.

Bring binoculars if you have them. The tour is designed to bring you close to the island, but not every departure provides a clear, detailed look at every bird. One drawback raised by the experience is that the boat may remain farther from Bird Island than you expect. You can still see plenty of puffins, but close-up photographs are not guaranteed.

Timing matters more than the calendar date alone. Puffins return near the end of April for breeding season and leave Iceland around mid-August to spend winter in the open ocean. After August 15, the combined whale and puffin trips stop, and the operator offers regular whale watching instead.

That narrow season is important when planning a North Iceland itinerary. If puffins are high on your list, schedule this outing between late April and August 15, with the understanding that the birds may be more plentiful at some times than others. A booking in early or mid-August can still produce puffin sightings, but the colony may not look as full as it does earlier in the breeding season.

Searching Skjálfandi Bay for whales

After the puffin stop, the boat heads toward the traditional whale-watching areas of Skjálfandi Bay. This is where the outing becomes less predictable and often more exciting.

Humpback whales are among the most commonly seen species. They may surface near the boat, raise a tail, roll through the water, or show only a dark back before disappearing. Sightings can last a long time. One outing followed a whale for more than an hour and a half, while another produced two humpbacks beside the boat for an extended period.

Minke whales are also common. In the beginning of summer, you may have a chance to see blue whales and fin whales as well. The wording matters here: these are possible species, not a checklist. The crew uses its years on Skjálfandi Bay to choose routes, but no captain can control where a wild whale surfaces.

Dolphins and porpoises add variety when whales are scarce. White-beaked dolphins are common in the bay, and they may appear in groups near the boat. Porpoises are smaller and less dramatic, but seeing one is still a fine reward. Several outings have included dolphins as well as whales and puffins, creating a full day of marine wildlife rather than a single-species chase.

You should also keep watching the sky and shoreline. The tour includes local bird species in their natural setting, not just puffins. The guide helps you identify what you are seeing and keeps the group focused when wildlife appears.

What a good wildlife day can look like

On a strong departure, the sightings can come in layers. You might begin with a large puffin colony, then spot dolphins, then follow several humpback whales as they surface around the boat. Some outings have produced six whales, nine whales, or about ten whales in a few hours.

That kind of trip is possible, but it should not become your baseline expectation. Whale watching is not a show with scheduled performances. Even when a whale is present, you may see only the top of its back for a moment. One family considered the outing worthwhile after seeing just a couple of humpbacks briefly, because the time on the water, the scenery, and the boat ride were part of the experience too.

I appreciate that honest uncertainty. If you need guaranteed close views, a wildlife cruise may frustrate you. If you can enjoy the bay, seabirds, weather, and anticipation along with the animals, the trip offers much better value.

There is also an ethical question. One visitor felt that several boats were actively following a lone whale too closely. The experience provider presents the tours as respectful of animal welfare, and the crew provides guidance about wildlife and conservation, but you should still pay attention to how the boat behaves around animals. A responsible outing gives the whale room and avoids turning a sighting into a pursuit.

Staying warm on an exposed boat

Iceland’s summer can look mild from the harbor and feel cold once the boat moves into open water. The supplied overalls are therefore more than a nice extra. They help cut the wind and let you focus on spotting wildlife instead of worrying about your hands and shoulders.

Wear warm clothing under them and bring sensible footwear. The supplied information confirms warm overalls and light refreshments, while the most specific onboard treat mentioned is hot chocolate with a cinnamon bun. That warm drink and sweet snack come at the end for many departures, and it is a welcome finish after several hours outside.

The boat has been described as clean and comfortable, but comfort depends partly on the sea. Calm weather makes it easier to watch, photograph, and move around. Rough conditions can affect both your comfort and the operator’s decision to sail.

If you are prone to seasickness, think carefully about the conditions on the day and ask the operator if you need current advice. The available information does not promise medication, indoor seating arrangements, or a particular vessel for every departure, so you should not assume those details.

The value of the $130 price

At $130 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a few hours in North Iceland. It is also more than a quick harbor cruise. You are paying for about three and a half hours on the bay, a combined puffin and whale route, a seasoned crew, warm overalls, and refreshments.

The price makes the most sense if you want both types of wildlife in one outing. Booking separate puffin and whale trips would take more time and could cost more, though separate outings might give you more flexibility if weather changes.

The scenery also adds value. From the water, Húsavík and the surrounding coast take on a different character, and several outings have found the views alone worthwhile. If you are staying in Húsavík, the trip can become the centerpiece of a day in town rather than a quick add-on.

The value is weaker if puffins are your only goal and your schedule is tight. The trip spends part of its time traveling to whale areas, and the puffins may be distant. It is also weaker if you are booking late in the season and would be disappointed by a smaller colony or an unavailable combined tour after August 15.

Families, older adults, and different expectations

This outing suits families well, provided everyone can manage a boat ride lasting around three and a half hours. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed.

The supplied overalls make the trip easier for a mixed-age family. A family outing that included an 11-year-old and a 65-year-old grandmother found the boat manageable and appreciated the warmth and hot cocoa. That does not remove the need for personal warm clothing, but it does make the experience less demanding than an exposed trip in ordinary outdoor clothes.

You should book it if your group enjoys nature and can accept uncertainty. It is a less reliable choice for anyone who needs a guaranteed sighting, has limited tolerance for cold or motion, or wants a small boat with personal attention.

The crew’s role is especially useful for children. Instead of simply scanning the horizon, they are given help with where to look and what they may be seeing. That turns waiting into part of the activity.

Weather, cancellations, and route changes

The tour requires good weather, and the operator can cancel if sea conditions are unsafe. A cancellation caused by poor weather comes with the option of another date or a full refund.

That policy is sensible, but the practical handling can be frustrating. Some departures have been canceled even when the harbor looked calm and other boats were operating. Conditions farther out at sea can differ sharply from what you see on land, but you should still keep some flexibility in your schedule.

A weather-related change can also move the activity from Húsavík to Akureyri. If that happens, the whale watching may continue, but the puffin portion may not be available from the alternate location. Build a little spare time into your North Iceland plans, and do not schedule your airport departure or another fixed activity immediately afterward.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded. The cutoff uses local Icelandic time.

Should you book the Húsavík whale and puffin tour?

I would book this tour if you are in North Iceland during puffin season and want one well-priced outing that combines birds, whales, dolphins, and bay scenery. The best features are the seasonal Puffin Island visit, the chance of spending serious time with humpbacks, the warm overalls, and the crew’s clear directions when wildlife appears.

Book with realistic expectations. You may see an unforgettable number of whales, or you may get a few brief surfaces. Puffins may be abundant but distant, and weather can cancel the trip or shift it to a route without puffins.

For the strongest chance of enjoying it, arrive early for check-in, read the confirmation closely, wear warm layers under the supplied overalls, bring binoculars if you own them, and keep your schedule flexible. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, $130 is a fair price for three and a half hours in Skjálfandi Bay.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at the North Sailing Húsavík Whale Watching office on Garðarsbraut, 640 Húsavík, Iceland.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in Húsavík.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $130 per person.

When can I see puffins on this tour?

Puffins return to Iceland around the end of April for breeding season and leave around mid-August. The combined whale and puffin trips are not offered after August 15.

What wildlife might I see?

Possible sightings include puffins, humpback whales, Minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, porpoises, and local bird species. Blue whales and fin whales may appear at the beginning of summer.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. English is the listed language, and the guide may also be multilingual.

Are warm clothes and refreshments provided?

Warm overalls and light refreshments are provided. Hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun are specifically included as onboard treats.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of weather?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.