Whale Watching by RIB Speedboat from Downtown Reykjavik

Reykjavik whale watching feels more like a mission than a bus ride when you’re on a small 12-seat RIB racing across the bay in search of whales and dolphins. I love that the guide keeps things tight and personal, and I also love the practical comfort, with warm overalls and gloves so you can stay out on deck instead of hiding inside the photo stops. One drawback: this is a fast, open-water experience, so if it’s a wavy day you’ll likely get hit by spray and you should dress for it even in summer.

The route is built around Faxafloi Bay’s near-coast wildlife lanes, with scenic breaks that make the whole trip feel worth it even when sightings are brief. Most people can handle it, but if you hate cold water hitting your face and arms, go in with eyes open.

Key highlights you’ll actually care about

• 12 travelers max for more attention and faster calls when wildlife appears
• RIB speedboat across Faxafloi Bay, which can help you reach sightings quicker than big vessels
• Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and safety gear included so you start equipped
• Reykjavik scenery stop by Harpa, plus views of the Sun Voyager area
• Island-hopping viewpoint angles from Engey, Lundey, and Viðey while searching for marine mammals
• English-led tours and year-round chances to spot multiple species

Whale watching by RIB from downtown Reykjavik: what this experience is really like

If you’re visiting Reykjavik and want ocean wildlife without spending half the day at sea, this is one of the most direct ways to do it. You start downtown, you head out fast in a rigid inflatable boat, and you keep moving across Faxafloi Bay looking for whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

The big idea behind the small RIB is simple: fewer people, more flexibility. With a maximum of 12 travelers, your guide can explain what you’re seeing, adjust plans quickly, and keep you oriented so you don’t miss the moments when animals surface. The boat also stays closer to the action because you’re in a faster, smaller platform than the larger tour vessels.

How the ride changes your day

This is not a slow cruise where you sit back and watch the horizon. You’re straddling the seat and holding on for a quick, bouncy crossing. On calmer days, you’ll feel like you’re getting a thrill ride with a wildlife bonus. On rougher days, you’ll get more spray and more motion, and your “phone for photos” plan may fall apart fast.

That’s why the gear matters. The tour provides warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and safety equipment. Even with that, plan on getting wet if the water is doing its thing. One review described it as repeated buckets of cold saltwater once the boat hit open water. The practical takeaway: use all provided gear and consider adding your own hat for extra coverage.

Getting from Old Harbour House to the water fast

Your meeting point is Old Harbour House, at Ægisgarður 2 in Reykjavik (right by Food, Drinks & Tours). The nice part of this start is that you’re already in the center of town, so you’re not burning time on long transfers.

From there, the boat sets you up for a route that combines wildlife and quick city scenery. You’ll pass major highlights as part of the tour drive and orientation around the bay, and the whole itinerary is built to stay efficient with your limited time.

What “downtown” means for scheduling

This is an approximately 2-hour tour and it ends back at the meeting point. That makes it easy to build into a day that also includes exploring Harpa, shopping, or a food stop. It’s also why I like booking earlier: this kind of wildlife outing can fill up, and the tour is commonly booked about 36 days in advance.

The Harpa stop: why you get a city moment before the sea search

A whale watch tour can feel purely utilitarian if it’s only about the water. This one gives you a visual warm-up with a stop connected to Harpa, Reykjavík’s concert hall and conference center.

Harpa is known for its striking colored glass facade, inspired by Iceland’s basalt landscape. The building opened in 2011, and even if you’re not into architecture, it’s a quick way to anchor the trip in place: you’re not just going out to look at animals, you’re seeing what makes Reykjavik feel like Reykjavik.

A realistic note

This stop is part of the tour flow, not a full museum visit. Don’t expect a long window for detailed exploring. It’s more like a clean pause where you can reset, grab your bearings, and get ready for the water.

Faxafloi Bay: the wildlife-focused geography you’re paying for

Most of the value is in where you go, and for this tour that’s Faxafloi Bay, just along the southern shore. From Reykjavik, you can even see the peninsula of Akranes in the northeast, and on clear days you can spot Snæfellsjökull at about 120 km (75 miles) away.

Faxafloi Bay matters because it offers a near-coast setting with islands positioned close to land. Compared with other bays in Iceland, this one has fewer islands, which can mean your captain and guide can work more concentrated search routes.

Engey, Lundey, and Viðey: what these islands add

You’ll get viewpoint coverage around islands in the area while the boat searches for animals:

• Engey: the second-largest island in the Kollafjörður (Faxa Bay) fjord system.
• Lundey: literally Puffin Island, a small uninhabited island off Reykjavík’s western coast.
• Viðey: the largest island in the Kollafjörður Bay near Reykjavík.

These island names aren’t just trivia. The boat positioning near these spots can improve your odds because marine mammals and seabirds often use the same waters for feeding and movement. Even when whales don’t cooperate, the combination of islands plus open-water scouting keeps the trip from feeling one-note.

What you might see: species chances and how to read the water

This tour runs all year round, and you’re not limited to one “seasonal” species. The experience description highlights the possibility of minke whales, humpback whales, and killer whales, along with white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises.

In real life, sightings can be quick and unpredictable. A common pattern from the feedback is that the boat can find animals, then you’ll spend time enough for multiple surfacing moments, not just one brief spout and disappear.

A quick guide to what matters during a sighting

When you see birds flying low over water or you notice the boat behavior change, pay attention to the direction of travel and the water surface ahead. With a fast RIB, animals can pop up close, then move a bit, and you may get a better view than you would from farther out on a big ship. Be ready to look quickly, especially since some dolphin and whale moments can be short.

Also, if you care about photos, practice putting your phone away until your gloves and hands are stable. One review pointed out how wet hands and seawater spray made it tough to use a phone even with gloves and goggles.

Gear and comfort: staying warm on a cold, wet boat

The tour includes warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and necessary safety equipment. That is a real advantage because your decision to book should not depend on whether you can find winter gear in Reykjavik last minute.

But the reviews also make one thing crystal clear: take the gear seriously. Use it all. Bring extra items that help you stay covered. One person even recommended using every piece of equipment and adding a hat, because spray can still reach the parts you think are safe.

How wet your day can get

In calm weather, you may stay mostly dry. In rougher conditions, expect seawater spray once you reach more open water. The most common discomfort themes were:

• shoes soaking through
• jeans going from dry to dripping
• jacket feeling damp and cold after repeated spray

That doesn’t mean you should cancel. It means you should pack and wear with a cold-water mindset.

My practical packing tips for this specific ride

Even though the tour provides major warmth gear, I’d still plan like you’re going to get wet. Wear layers you can live with if they take on water. Put your valuables in a dry bag or waterproof pouch. And if you wear glasses, goggles plus a secure fit becomes part of your comfort plan.

How the small-group format changes your odds

A maximum of 12 travelers is the quiet difference between a good whale tour and a great one. With fewer people, you’re less fighting for sightlines. You also get a better chance of hearing instructions and learning what you’re actually looking at.

One review highlighted a guide who is a marine biologist and answered questions during the tour. Another praised the crew for trying hard to see multiple whale varieties. This aligns with what you want from wildlife guides: not a vague lecture, but a focused explanation tied to what the boat is doing right now.

The captain matters, too

The boat’s success depends on the captain and first mate working together. Multiple accounts credited the crew with finding whales and getting close in a responsible way, then staying in position long enough for repeated surfacing moments.

In other words, speed helps, but skill matters more. A well-run RIB ride feels controlled, not random.

Speed, safety, and the reality of being close to wildlife

RIBs are exciting because they can move quickly across Faxafloi Bay. That speed is part of the reason you might get closer to animals than you would on a larger vessel.

The ride is still a boat ride, so it’s not risk-free. The tour includes safety equipment, and your crew will run the trip with sea conditions in mind. One review even mentioned concerns about the bow rail and exposed sharp metal nails after a large-boat substitution. That kind of safety detail is something you should always notice yourself. If something feels off, say something right away.

What “close” can mean

When things go well, you might be within surprisingly short distances, and you can witness behavior like spouting, surfacing, and even playful interactions near the boat. One account described humpback whales very close to the RIB and repeated activity like slapping the water with fins.

On other days, you’ll see whales briefly or see dolphins more consistently. That doesn’t mean the tour was a failure. It means Iceland did Iceland things.

Price and value: is $145 worth it?

At $145 per person for about 2 hours, this is not the cheapest whale option in Reykjavik, but it can be good value for the type of experience it offers.

Here’s how I think about value:

• You’re paying for time and positioning. A fast RIB can reach animal areas quickly and adjust routes in real time.
• You’re paying for smaller group attention. With 12 travelers max, your chance to understand what’s happening is better.
• You’re paying for included gear. Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and safety equipment reduce your out-of-pocket costs and make the tour more comfortable.

If you’re choosing between a large crowded ship and a small RIB, I’d lean RIB for the feel of it. If you’re choosing between this and a completely different activity because you hate cold spray, that’s where the value flips. You need to want the conditions.

Who should book this RIB whale watching tour?

Book it if you want:

• a fast, action-filled whale watching experience from downtown
• small-group attention and a more personal feel on the water
• warm provided gear and an efficient 2-hour format

Consider a different style of tour if you:

• hate getting wet and cold
• have trouble with bumpy rides and motion
• need easy access to stable phone use for photos

This works well for couples, solo travelers, and families who can follow safety instructions and dress for spray. One review specifically said it was a highlight for their family, including an 11-year-old.

Booking strategy: when to lock it in and what to expect

This type of tour is commonly booked about 36 days in advance, so if your schedule is fixed, I’d secure it early. Also, remember this experience depends on weather and sea conditions. That’s normal for Iceland, but it’s not a reason to wait until the last minute.

If you’re visiting for only a short time, I’d try to keep your day flexible enough to handle a reschedule. Some tours can run, while others cancel based on wind and sea conditions, even if it feels similar across operators.

Should you book this whale watching tour?

I’d say yes, if you’re excited by a fast small-boat wildlife hunt and you’ll use all the included gear. The combination of a 12-seat RIB, included warm clothing, and a route focused on Faxafloi Bay islands makes it one of the more satisfying ways to spend a couple hours near Reykjavik.

I’d say not for you if you absolutely hate being wet, cold, and bounced around. This tour can be thrilling, but it’s not a spa cruise.

FAQ

How long is the RIB whale watching tour from downtown Reykjavik?

It lasts about 2 hours.

What is the group size on this tour?

It has a maximum of 12 travelers.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

What meeting point do I use in Reykjavik?

You meet at Old Harbour House, Ægisgarður 2, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

What is included for warmth and safety?

The tour includes warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and all necessary safety equipment, plus the up to 2-hour RIB experience and Reykjavík sightseeing with panoramic views.

Is hotel transfer included?

No, hotel transfer is not included.

What happens if weather is poor?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.