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Puffins & Whale Watching from Húsavík

Name: Puffins & Whale Watching from Húsavík
Brand: Iceland Travel Guide
SKU: 69719
Price: 16490 ISK
Availability: PreOrder
Rating: 5.0 (1 reviews)

About 3.5 hoursGroup: Shared boatEasyBoatDiscounted age 7-15, free under 7Mid-April to mid-August

5.0(1 review)

Whale feeding at the surface, from above

Passengers watching a whale beside the boat

A puffins and whale watching tour from Húsavík combines a stop at Puffin Island, home to over 100,000 puffins in summer, with a search for whales in Skjálfandi Bay. It runs from mid-April to mid-August, when the puffins are on the island.

Húsavík harbourPuffin IslandSkjálfandi Bay

See puffins up close at Puffin Island, one of Iceland's best puffin colonies
Search for whales in Skjálfandi Bay, known as the whale watching capital of Iceland
Warm overalls and raincoats provided if needed
Hot chocolate and cinnamon cookies included on board
Discounts at local attractions in Húsavík with your boarding card

Your day, stop by stop

Click a stop for photos and practical tips.

1Meet at Húsavík harbourBoard your wooden boat before departure.

Puffin IslandA short sail to see puffins nesting on the cliffs.

A short sail takes you to Puffin Island, where puffins nest on the cliffs from mid-April until they head back out to sea in mid-August. The crew shares background on the colony as you approach, and the island holds over 100,000 puffins during the breeding season.

Season · puffins present mid-April to mid-August

Skjálfandi BayThe crew searches the bay for whales.

For the rest of the roughly 3.5-hour trip the crew searches the bay for whales, known for regular sightings including humpback and minke whales. The crew watches for signs and moves the boat to give good views. Hot chocolate and cinnamon buns are included on board.

Time here · the remainder of the roughly 3.5-hour tripOnboard · hot chocolate and cinnamon buns included

4Back to Húsavík harbourReturn to the harbour to finish the tour.

About the puffins and whale watching Husavik

Skjálfandi Bay off Húsavík, in North Iceland, is known as the whale watching capital of Iceland, with humpback, minke and sometimes blue whales passing through depending on the season. This tour combines that with a stop at Puffin Island on the way out, where puffins nest in their thousands from mid-April until they head back out to sea in mid-August.

The boat sails first to Puffin Island, where the crew points out the puffins and other seabirds nesting on the cliffs, then spends the rest of the trip in the bay looking for whales. Sightings are never guaranteed, since it's wildlife, but the crew know the area well and share what they know about the animals and the bay as you go.

It runs from mid-April to mid-August, matching the puffins' season, so it's not available for the rest of the year, when whale-only tours from Húsavík continue. Warm overalls and raincoats are provided if you need them, and hot chocolate and cinnamon cookies are served on board, since the water can be cold even on a sunny day.

Included

Boat trip with guide
Warm overalls and raincoat if needed
Hot chocolate and cinnamon buns
Meeting point: Whale Watching Centre ticket office, Hafnarstétt 9, Húsavík

Not included

Transport to Húsavík

What to bring

Warm layers
Camera or binoculars
Motion sickness tablets if you're prone to seasickness

Good to know

Duration is about 3.5 hours
Runs mid-April to mid-August, when puffins are on the island
Children aged 7-15 travel at a discounted rate, under 7s free
Whale and puffin sightings depend on wildlife and weather, and are never guaranteed
Boarding card gives discounts at some local Húsavík attractions
Several sailings a day; start times in the booking system include 8:45, 9:00, 9:15, 11:00, 12:15 and 13:30 (check the calendar for your date)
Warm overalls and raincoats are lent to you on board if needed

Questions people ask

Are whale sightings guaranteed?

No, it's wildlife, so sightings can't be guaranteed, though Skjálfandi Bay has a good track record.

What if it's cold or rainy?

Warm overalls and a raincoat are provided if you need them, and hot chocolate is served on board.

Can young children come?

Yes, children aged 7-15 get a discounted rate and under 7s go free.

Is this tour available all year?

No, it runs mid-April to mid-August, matching the puffin season. Outside those months, whale-only tours are available instead.

Reviews

Reviews from travellers who took this tour. A local reads every review before it is shown.

5.0Based on 1 review

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1 star0

Saw both puffins and whales and the views are amazing!

We loved this excursion in Húsavík North Iceland. We saw both whales and puffins on the tour and the views from sea were also amazing! This was a part of the Custom Itinerary by Iceland Travel Guide that absolutely made our trip. After this tour we went to the GeoSea that we loved and was one of the highlights of our trip. It was very refreshing to go there after a day out on sea.

Jeff H. · December 2022

From16,490 ISKPer person