Iceland Super Saver: Puffin Cruise plus Whale-Watching Tour from Reykjavik

This is one of the smartest ways to pack two of Iceland’s best ocean wildlife moments into one half-day, with a puffin cruise plus whale watching from Reykjavik. I like that the trip is designed as a true combo, not two disconnected add-ons, and you also get practical help like binoculars and warm clothing so you can focus on spotting wildlife.

The main thing to keep in mind is that whales are wild animals. Even with experienced guides and good conditions, you might end up with dolphins and other seabirds more often than guaranteed whale sightings.

Key Points Before You Go

• Two tours in one block of time: you can usually expect a longer whale segment and a shorter puffin segment.
• Binoculars are included on the puffin part, plus onboard narration about how puffins behave.
• Warm overalls on the whale cruise, and the crew may offer motion-sickness support when seas feel rough.
• Faxafloi Bay scanning with guidance: guides actively look for minke and humpback whales while you’re out on the water.
• Free Wi-Fi is included on the whale-watching cruise.
• Small puffin boat, big puffin island views: you cannot access protected breeding islands, so you’ll be viewing from the water.

Why This Puffin Plus Whale Combo Works Well from Reykjavik

If you only do one ocean tour in Iceland, you’ll likely want it to cover both sides of the wildlife coin: seabirds with real personality, and whales in the deep, open water. This Iceland Super Saver pairing tries to do exactly that in one smooth morning or afternoon window from Reykjavik, with you shifting from the puffins to the whale boat.

What makes it feel like good value is not just the bundled price. It’s that each part is set up for a different kind of spotting. On the puffin cruise, you’re dealing with dense bird activity near the rocky coast and you get binoculars and a close-in style approach to viewing. On the whale portion, the work is searching open sea, staying warm, and listening to spotters read the water and wind like a live radar screen.

The other reason this combo can be a win: the order is flexible. In practice, that often means you get the longer whale portion first and then a shorter puffin cruise, with a quick changeover so you’re not burning an entire day chasing two different boats.

Getting Started at Geirsgata 11, Then Heading Toward Old Harbour and Akurey

Your day anchors at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík, and the activity ends back there. That matters because it keeps your logistics simple compared with tours that scatter pick-up points across town.

From there, the whale-watching side is set up around the Old Harbour area for boarding the vessel. The puffin cruise then focuses on getting you to the best viewing area around the rocky shores of Akurey, plus additional vantage points as the boat circles.

One detail I appreciate: the group size is capped at 33 travelers. That’s not a tiny private boat, but it generally helps keep the experience from feeling like a cattle lineup, especially for the puffin segment where the boat can feel busy at peak capacity.

Puffin Cruise: Akurey Views, Binoculars, and a Guided Look at Bird Behavior

The puffin cruise portion is built around a simple idea: watch them like the pros, not like tourists who only know where to point. As you head out, you’ll get narration that covers puffin behavior and even how they function physiologically, which makes it much easier to understand what you’re seeing when they pop up, call, and dive.

As the boat nears the island area, you’re encouraged to look out the window for diving action, then use the provided binoculars to get a sharper view. The tour format is not about stalking one bird for a hero photo. It’s about scanning constantly, because puffins are active and move fast between surface moments and dives.

You’ll also be looking for related seabirds like Arctic terns, black guillemots, and northern fulmars. This matters because even if puffins feel like the headline, the surrounding sea life gives your eyes more to work with, so the cruise doesn’t turn into waiting.

Where Akurey fits in: the boat reaches the rocky shore area, and then circles to chase prime puffin vantage points. A key reality check, based on how these wildlife operations work: you do not get access to the island where puffins breed. That protected-breeding restriction keeps the experience sustainable for the birds, but it also means you’ll often be viewing from a distance rather than standing on the rocks at puffin level.

A common puffin-experience trade-off

People love seeing lots of puffins, but they also point out a mismatch between expectations and what’s possible from the water. From the reviews I read, some folks felt the puffin cruise was too short, and others felt the boat never quite got close enough for a perfect, detailed photo.

So here’s how I’d plan it: treat the puffin cruise as a close viewing experience with binoculars, not as a guaranteed super-close, camera-at-the-breeding-rookery experience.

Whale Watching in Faxafloi Bay: Warm Gear, Wi-Fi, and Spotter-Style Scanning

The whale-watching part of this combo runs out in Faxafloi Bay, where the odds can be decent but still never perfect. Your guide helps scan open seas for species like minke whales and humpback whales. The onboard commentary is part of the spotting process, not just background noise, and it can make the whole hunt feel more like a field mission.

You’ll also be watching for marine life such as white-beaked dolphins and porpoises. If whales don’t show up, dolphins can still turn the boat ride into something memorable because they’re often visible sooner and in more predictable movement patterns than whales far out at sea.

The crew provides warm overalls on this segment, which I consider non-negotiable in Iceland wind. One review mentioned that on rougher or colder days they were issued extra cold-weather gear like wet suits as well, which suggests they will adjust warmth setup based on conditions.

Comfort and timing are real issues on whale trips. There’s a wide experience range depending on sea state. Some boats feel roomy; others feel crowded. In the feedback I saw, people sometimes wanted more top-deck seating, and once or twice mentioned the boat felt full.

Also, seasickness can be a factor. Several reviews described the crew offering motion-sickness help, including sick bags, and in at least one case ginger candy. Another review mentioned sea-sickness pills and recommended taking one if you’re prone to it.

Wildlife Reality Check: How Likely Are Whales and What You Can Do

Here’s the honest truth: you are paying for a hunt, not a guaranteed sighting. Whales are wild, they move, and weather and visibility influence everything.

That said, the tour includes a specific promise if whale sightings don’t happen: if you don’t spot any whales in Faxafloi Bay, you receive a complimentary ticket for another whale-watching cruise. That’s a big deal for your risk tolerance, especially if you’re traveling on a tight schedule and want to believe the bay owes you something.

How to improve your odds, practically:

• Bring warm layers even with overalls available, because wind finds weak spots.
• If you get offered motion-sickness pills, don’t be brave. If you feel even slightly queasy on boats, take them early.
• On the water, stay engaged. Whale spotting is about scanning and pattern recognition, not about staring at one patch of ocean.

And remember what whales are like when they show up. A humpback can give tail slaps and long surface time, which is when photography gets good. But a minke can be more fleeting, with shorter surface breaks. Your chance of seeing either can be different day to day.

The Guides and the Special Tours App, Including Names You May Hear

A tour like this rises or falls on the guide’s ability to turn chaos into clarity. The puffin side especially benefits from narrators who can explain what you’re watching in plain language.

In the feedback you provided, a few guide names came up repeatedly:

• Jo and Lucas were mentioned during a whale-watching experience, with praise for keeping people informed and pointing out what to watch for.
• Blanca was praised on both the whale and dolphin side for being sharp at spotting.
• Patrick got high marks during the puffin cruise for being funny and informative.
• One person specifically called out a whale guide’s English as less clear. That doesn’t mean every guide will be hard to understand, but it is worth noting if language clarity is critical for you.

For extra context, there’s a Special Tours app included (available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese). I like this because it helps you follow along even if the boat is windy and sound carries poorly. It’s also a way to get species context quickly while you’re still on the water.

Timing, Transfers, and How to Plan Your Day in Reykjavik

This is an approx 4 hours 30 minutes experience. In practice, the day can feel like two blocks of different intensity: longer time cruising on the whale boat, then a shorter puffin outing.

Hotel pickup is available to book separately with extra fees, but it’s not automatically included. The default setup ends back at the meeting point, so you should plan to return to central Reykjavik easily on foot or by bus.

Meals and drinks are not included. Some reviews did mention buying snacks on the whale boat. I’d still treat this as a light-duty half-day: eat before you go, and bring a snack if you’re the kind of person who gets grumpy when it’s time to hunt.

What to Bring, and How to Stay Comfortable in Cold Wind

This is Iceland, and “comfortable” is mostly about prep.

Bring:

• A warm hat and gloves. The wind matters more than the temperature.
• A waterproof outer layer, especially for the whale boat where spray can happen.
• Your own binoculars if you’re serious about bird viewing. Binoculars are provided on the puffin cruise, but feedback mentions they may not be enough for everyone, and you might wait.

What’s provided:

• On the whale cruise, warm overalls.
• On the puffin cruise, a soft provided blanket.
• Binoculars on the puffin segment.
• Free Wi-Fi on the whale cruise.

One more comfort tip: if you know you get motion sick, plan for it as if the sea will be rough. Even in better seas, small waves are part of the bay.

Price and Value: Is $156.19 Worth It?

At $156.19 per person, you’re paying for two separate wildlife experiences bundled into one half-day. The value angle is that you’re saving hassle and time by using the same overall activity window to cover both whales and puffins, instead of booking two separate trips on different days with different logistics.

Here’s the balanced view:

• If you care most about whales, the whale portion is the bigger ticket feature in both time and long-horizon payoff. Even when whales are distant, the feeling of being in the bay and scanning for wildlife is usually the point.
• If you care most about puffins, the puffin cruise is often loved for the number of birds and the guided explanation. Just don’t assume island-level closeness, because you can’t access the breeding island, and distance is part of the rules.

And then there’s the safety net: the complimentary whale-watching ticket if whales do not show up in Faxafloi Bay. That reduces your risk, which is important at this price point.

Who This Combo Is Best For

This tour is a strong match if:

• You want a one-day wildlife combo without spending a whole day on the water.
• You like guides who talk through what you’re seeing, including puffin behavior.
• You’re traveling with kids or family. The smaller puffin-boat segment and the variety of seabirds make it easier to keep attention than a long, slow-only whale search.

I’d think twice if:

• You want guaranteed close-up whale encounters. Nothing here promises that, and it shouldn’t.
• You’re very sensitive to crowding or tight viewing. The puffin boat can feel full, based on one review, and binocular sharing can be annoying.

Should You Book This Iceland Super Saver Combo?

If your goal is to maximize your Reykjavik ocean time and you’re happy to let wildlife do its thing, I think this is a good book. The puffin cruise with binoculars and guided bird viewing pairs well with the whale hunt in Faxafloi Bay, and the complimentary whale ticket safety net helps justify the cost.

My deciding advice:

• Book it if you want both puffins and whales in one half-day and you’re okay with the reality that whales are not guaranteed.
• Consider it less if your top priority is guaranteed whale sightings at very close range. For that, you need to accept that Iceland always gives you uncertainty, not certainties.

FAQ

How long is the Iceland Super Saver Puffin and Whale tour?

It runs about 4 hours 30 minutes approximately, combining the puffin cruise and the whale-watching portion into one time window.

Where does the tour start and end?

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

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

Are binoculars provided for the puffin part?

Yes. Binoculars are included on the puffin cruise.

What cold-weather clothing do you get?

On the whale-watching cruise you get warm overalls. On the puffin cruise, a blanket is provided. Warm clothes are still recommended.

Are hotel transfers included?

Hotel transfers are not included by default. Pickup may be available to book separately with extra fees.

What happens if no whales are seen in Faxafloi Bay?

If whales are not spotted in Faxafloi Bay, you are offered a complimentary ticket for another whale-watching cruise.