Whale Watching in Reykjavik by Speedboat

GYG

Whale Watching in Reykjavik by Speedboat

★ 4.8(79 reviews)

• Guide works in English
• Duration per the operator: 2 hours

from $196

See dates, price and what is included at the operator

Two hours on the water from Reykjavik's harbour

This tour leaves from Reykjavik and gets you out onto Faxafloi bay for two hours in a speedboat. The boat is the point here: it is faster than the standard whale-watching vessels, which means you cover more water and reach the feeding grounds sooner. The itinerary names two places, Reykjavik and Vik i Myrdal, though the latter sits far down the south coast, so in practice the running is done in the bay near the city. The tour is led by a guide who speaks English, and the operator, Whale Safari, runs it for people who want the wildlife without spending half a day at sea. At 196 USD per person, it is priced above most of the other whale-watching trips in Reykjavik, and it is built for travellers who would rather pay more for a shorter, faster outing than sit on a slower boat for three hours. The ride itself is part of the appeal, so it suits people who are comfortable with a brisk, open-air crossing.

Photographs from the operator Whale Safari. They show the listing, not your day.

What the 196 USD covers

The entry price is from 196 USD per person. That figure buys you the two-hour speedboat ride with an English-speaking guide. The operator is explicit about what sits outside that price: food is not included, and hotel pickup is not included either. You make your own way to the harbour in Reykjavik and you bring whatever you want to eat or drink. No other costs are listed for the day. There is no admission charge at any point on the route and no parking fee at the departure, so the 196 USD is the figure to plan around. Free cancellation is offered, which gives you some flexibility if the weather turns, though the operator does not give a deadline for it. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, so if that matters to you, this is not the boat to book.

A high score from a small group

The rating sits at 4.8 out of 5, which is a strong number on its own. What matters more is the count behind it: 79 reviews. That is a small sample. Compare it with the larger whale-watching operations in Reykjavik, where the marine life cruise has 4.5 from over 11,000 reviews and the Amelia Rose yacht has 4.5 from over 3,000. Those scores are lower but far more tested. This speedboat tour has a higher average, but it comes from a fraction of the feedback, so the score is less reliable as a predictor. In the category of 36 whale-watching listings, it ranks 19th by number of reviews, which puts it in the middle of the pack for how much evidence exists. The price tells a clearer story: at 196 USD it is the 28th most expensive of the 36, meaning it sits among the priciest fifth of its group. You are paying a premium for the shorter duration and the faster boat, and the reviews that do exist are enthusiastic, but they are few enough that you should read them with that in mind.

Best months for a short, fast trip

The boat runs for two hours, which is short enough that the season matters more than the time of day. Reykjavik's temperatures peak in July at 15 degrees and stay above 10 from June through September. Those are the months when a two-hour crossing in an open speedboat is comfortable. May and September sit at 10 and 11 degrees respectively, which is workable with warm layers. From October through April, the average high sits between 3 and 8 degrees, and the wind across the bay at speed will cut through anything light. The low sun and short daylight in December and January also limit the useful hours. For a tour this short, the middle of the day is the sensible choice in the colder months, since you want the best light and the warmest part of the afternoon. In high summer, the long daylight means an evening departure is viable, but the boat is open and fast, so the wind chill is constant regardless of when you go.

Getting on the boat in Reykjavik

You meet the tour at the harbour in Reykjavik. The speedboat departs from the city, so there is no long transfer before you are on the water. The guide is there to lead the trip and to point out what you see along the way. Because the boat is fast and open, the weather plays a direct role in how the tour runs. If the sea is rough or the wind is up, the operator may adjust the route or the guide may turn back early, and that is the sensible call rather than a failure of the trip. There is no indoor lounge on a boat this size, so you are exposed to the elements for the full two hours. Dress for the bay, not for the city: the temperature on the water will be lower than the forecast for Reykjavik itself. The operator does not list any facilities at the departure point, so arrive ready to board.

Who fits on this boat

This tour is for travellers who want whale watching but do not want to commit three hours to it. The two-hour format and the speedboat make it a tighter, more intense experience than the standard cruises. If you are prone to seasickness, a faster boat that spends less time bobbing in one spot can actually be easier on the stomach, but it is still open water. It suits people who are comfortable with wind and spray and who would rather pay more for a shorter outing. It is not for anyone who needs wheelchair access, since the operator states the tour is not accessible. It is also not the cheapest way to see whales: the three-hour marine life cruise from the same city starts at 97 USD, and the Amelia Rose yacht at 113 USD, both with substantially larger review counts. If your priority is keeping costs down or you want the most established operation with thousands of trips behind it, one of those longer, slower boats is the better fit. If you want the fast version with a guide and you are happy with the premium, this is the one.

GYG

Whale Watching in Reykjavik by Speedboat

Dates, remaining places and the current version of what is included are at the operator. This page reflects the state of the catalogue, not the state of this morning.

from $196

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