Two boats in one morning is the shortcut here. This discounted combo pairs a puffin cruise with a whale-watching tour from Reykjavik, with warm clothing, narration, and real wildlife time on the water. You get to choose the order of the two parts, so you can match the day’s weather mood.

I really like the puffin side: soft blankets, clear spotting help, and binoculars included so you can actually focus on what matters. I also like the whale cruise setup in Faxafloi Bay, with warm overalls and onboard commentary that helps you read what the animals are doing.

The big consideration is simple: wildlife is wildlife. Even with good effort and scanning, whale sightings are not guaranteed, and the puffins are often seen from the boat rather than up close on land.

Key points at a glance

• Choose your tour order, so you can flex to wind and swell
• Binoculars are included on the puffin cruise (handy for distance views)
• Warm overalls and blankets keep you comfortable in cold, windy conditions
• Onboard narration helps you spot behavior, not just silhouettes
• Max 33 travelers, which keeps the boats from feeling like a floating crowd
• If no whales are seen, you get a complimentary ticket for another whale cruise

Two tours, one day: how this Reykjavik bundle actually plays

This is sold as an Iceland Super Saver that bundles two different wildlife trips into one package: a puffin-focused cruise from Reykjavik and a whale-watching outing in Faxafloi Bay. You’re not just buying two activities back-to-back. You’re buying two different ways of seeing Iceland’s coastal life—small birds and open-sea giants—with a guided scan for both.

The most practical advantage is the order flexibility. If one part starts with rougher seas, you can choose which tour you run first. That matters because comfort at sea affects how much you enjoy the experience, not just whether you survive it.

The itinerary is designed so you can get back to the meeting point afterward, which helps if you want to keep the rest of your day free for Reykjavík’s food scene or a quick stop at a museum. The total time is about 4 hours 30 minutes, give or take with sea conditions.

Getting started at Geirsgata 11 and staying warm on purpose

Your main meeting point is Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavík. The trip ends back at the meeting point, which is a comfort for planning. Even if you add hotel pickup, you still want to treat the meeting point as your anchor—especially because you’ll need to reconfirm cruise times with the supplier using your voucher details.

Warmth is not an afterthought here. On the whale side, you get warm overalls, which is great because windy cold hits hard on open water. On the puffin side, you get a softer provided blanket, and that’s exactly what you want for a boat ride where you’ll be looking out constantly.

A small note that becomes a big comfort factor: seas can be calmer one day and rougher the next. The operator warns about conditions, and in feedback I’ve seen, the crew has helped people who get motion sick with ginger candy and sick bags. Some passengers also report being offered motion-sickness pills. Bring layers if you have them, but also trust the fact that they plan for the cold.

Puffin cruise to Akurey: what the binoculars and narration do for you

The puffin cruise is the shorter, more focused part of the day, centered on Akurey. This is not about landing and walking around. You stay on the water, and the goal is to observe puffins during active feeding and diving.

As you head toward the island, you’ll listen to narration that explains puffin behavior and basic physiology—how they hunt, how they move, and why you see certain patterns. That kind of commentary turns the ride from a scenic boat trip into actual wildlife learning.

The big practical win: binoculars are included. Puffins can be easy to spot at first glance, and then frustrating once they move—small bodies, quick dives, distance across choppy water. Binoculars give you the ability to track them between dives and confirm what you’re seeing. It also helps when puffins pop up at the surface farther out than you expect.

Once you reach the rocky shores of Akurey, the boat circles the island for more vantage points. From there, you’ll scan not only for puffins, but also for other seabirds like Arctic terns, black guillemots, and northern fulmars. If the sea has good visibility and wind cooperates, the bird activity can be steady rather than a single moment.

Where you might feel the limits: up-close hopes vs protected breeding rules

Puffins are famous, and it’s normal to want to see them like you see wildlife in a zoo exhibit: close, clear, and photo-friendly. Here’s the reality check. You don’t get to go onto the breeding island, and you’re photographing and observing from the boat. That means the experience is often about motion—watching takeoffs, flight patterns, and dives—rather than freezing one perfect portrait.

Some people find that the binoculars are the difference between a good puffin sighting and a great one. Others feel that even with binoculars, views can still be too distant for satisfying close-up photos. If your top goal is crisp, tight photography, keep expectations flexible.

Still, there’s a fair trade. You’re seeing these birds in their real environment, with guides helping you aim your attention at the right places and moments. The best parts tend to be the times when puffins are actively diving and the island is busy with flight traffic.

Whale watching in Faxafloi Bay: how the search becomes part of the fun

The whale tour part is longer and more open-water. You start from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour area and board the vessel there. If you book hotel pickup, you’ll be picked up from your hotel first, but it’s not part of the base price.

On this cruise, the focus is on scanning for minke whales and humpback whales in Faxafloi Bay. Your guide watches for signs in the water and uses the boat position to maximize sighting chances. Onboard commentary helps you interpret what you’re seeing so it doesn’t turn into a frustrating game of guessing.

Other marine life can include white-beaked dolphins and porpoises. Even when whales are elusive that day, you might still get a strong wildlife mix. And the ocean itself becomes part of the experience—watching the sea change texture, the clouds shift light, and the crew call out sightings as they happen.

Warm comfort is covered on the whale cruise with warm overalls, plus free Wi‑Fi on board. Wi‑Fi won’t help you find whales, but it does help you stay sane if you want to check plans or keep your family updated while you wait for the scan to pay off.

When seas turn rough, here is how to plan your attitude

Sea conditions can make or break a wildlife cruise experience. The operator warns you about conditions before departure, and if it’s rough, they have support on board like ginger candy and sick bags. That’s more than basic politeness. It reduces stress, and less stress usually means better attention to spotting.

Also remember that whale behavior can be unpredictable. Even with a good crew, the animals decide what they show and how close they come. If you want to avoid disappointment, treat this as a serious scouting mission with a real chance of seeing big whales, not as a guaranteed close-up encounter.

One very practical safety-and-value detail: if no whales are spotted in Faxafloi Bay, you receive a complimentary ticket for another whale-watching cruise. That doesn’t erase the day you lost at sea, but it improves the odds you’ll get your whale moment during your trip.

Guides, spotting help, and what to listen for

You’ll hear narration in both parts, and that’s important. Wildlife viewing isn’t just looking; it’s knowing what to watch for. The guides in this operation are often described as clear and engaging, with strong scanning skills.

You might get guides such as Jo and Lucas on whale days, or Blanca on other departures. On the puffin side, Patrick has been named in feedback too. I can’t promise any specific guide on your date, but the pattern shows up: the best results come when you pay attention to the guide’s calls and scanning cues.

A simple tactic that works: when the guide points something out, take a moment to check the details they’re highlighting—movement direction, surfacing timing, and the kind of splash or spout you’re seeing. That’s how you turn a quick glance into a real sighting you’ll remember.

Value check: is the $156.19 price fair for two wildlife tours

At $156.19 per person for a bundle, the real question is what you’re buying: convenience, content, or both. You’re buying both.

First, you’re getting two guided wildlife experiences that would likely cost more if booked separately—one focused on puffins around Akurey and one focused on whales and other marine life in Faxafloi Bay. Second, you get included gear that saves you from extra spending. Binoculars are included on the puffin cruise, and warm overalls are included on the whale cruise.

Then there’s the value layer that matters most: time. This package compresses two very different boat experiences into one half-day plan, so you don’t waste a whole extra travel day to add one more wildlife outing.

The only reason it might not feel like great value is if you mainly want guaranteed close-up whale sightings and you end up without whales. Even then, the whale re-sail option helps. And if you score dolphins, minke whales, or humpbacks, you’ll likely feel like this was a solid use of your Iceland time.

Who should book this combo, and who should rethink

This bundle is a strong fit if you:

• Want two kinds of Iceland wildlife in one morning
• Like guided narration and practical spotting help
• Are okay with the rules of protected breeding islands and the fact you won’t walk onto Akurey
• Are prepared for cold water and wind, and you’ll dress smartly

It’s also a decent choice if you’re budget-minded but still want quality touches: warm gear, binoculars, and onboard Wi‑Fi on the whale cruise.

You should rethink if your main goal is guaranteed whale close-ups or if you’re extremely sensitive to motion and don’t want to deal with possible rough seas. Some people also found the puffin side more enjoyable as a bird watching experience than a close photography experience, so if your camera goal is tight shots above all else, plan expectations accordingly.

Final verdict: should you book this Reykjavik puffin and whale tour?

I’d book this if you want a half-day wildlife hit with smart included gear and a real chance at humpback and minke whales. The puffin cruise is often the easiest win because you can actively watch for dives and bird behavior around Akurey, and the binoculars give you a fair chance to see them clearly.

If whales are your top obsession, go in with a mindset of scouting rather than certainty. The complimentary whale re-sail option is a meaningful safety net, and dolphins can still make the sea time feel worthwhile.

If you’re flexible about viewing style—action over perfect portraits—you’ll probably love this combo. It’s cold, it’s busy, and it’s very Iceland: looking out at the ocean, listening to what to watch for, and letting wildlife decide how close it wants to come.

FAQ

What does this Reykjavik experience include?

It includes warm overalls on the whale-watching cruise, free Wi‑Fi on the whale-watching boat, binoculars on the puffin cruise, and the Special Tours app.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is available to book separately with the supplier. The included option is not the hotel transfer.

Where does the tour start and end?

The activity starts at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland, and ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the tour?

The total duration is about 4 hours 30 minutes.

Can I choose the order of the puffin and whale tours?

Yes. The bundle offers flexibility to choose the order of the two tours.

Are whales guaranteed?

No. If you do not spot any whales in Faxafloi Bay, you receive a complimentary ticket for another whale-watching cruise.

Do I need to bring warm clothes?

Warm clothes are recommended. The whale cruise also provides warm overalls, and the puffin cruise provides a soft blanket, but Iceland weather can still be chilly and windy.