Best boat tours and cruises in Iceland

Iceland is one of the most fascinating ecotourism destinations. Combining volcanoes and hot springs with chunks of icebergs, frozen caves and a magically illuminated winter sky, this island is a traveller's dream.

As well as being a modest and welcoming city, Reykjavík offers a number of attractions for travellers. The city's harbours are the link to the natural wonders of the Arctic, with organised tours to see the puffins, the many species of whales, fishing and even the magical Northern Lights. I tell you more in this post.

Whale watching is one of the most popular activities to do on a boat in Iceland. The island's remote location and climatic conditions make the waters around its shores a favourite for these enormous cetaceans.

Many tourist excursions take advantage of this natural spectacle, which reaches its peak in the months of April to September. Species that can be encountered include humpback whales, killer whales, blue whales and also some species of dolphins.

The tour I recommend here departs from Reykjavík's old harbour. Here are more details.

Interesting details

• Price: From 76 euros.
• Duration: This excursion lasts 3 hours.
• Means of transport: The tour takes place on board a boat with a capacity for up to 150 passengers and is accompanied by an expert guide.
• Advantages of this option: You are picked up and dropped off at the hotel. In the (unlikely) event that you do not see whales or dolphins, you will receive a free ticket to do the tour on another day. Also, if the tour is cancelled due to bad weather conditions, you will be offered a change to another date or a full refund.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is not specified in which language the narration of the tour is transmitted (possibly English is one of them).

This whale watching tour takes place with small groups of maximum 12 people per boat. Obviously, they are smaller boats and... Inflatables. But don't worry, they are quite rigid and powerful for the experience.

The additional advantage of this type of boat is that you can get a bit closer to the animals (of course, within the non-disturbance zone) compared to the larger ones. The tour will also take you along the shores of some small islands in the nearby Faxaflói Bay where you can see the cute puffins during the breeding season (May to August).

The tour also departs from the oldest harbour in the capital Reykjavík.

Details of interest

• Price: From 122 euros.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Means of transport: On board a small boat (up to 12 people) with an expert guide.
• Advantages of this option: Sailing in these boats allows you to get closer to the whales. In the event that no cetaceans or dolphins are sighted, you will receive a free ticket to reschedule the tour. If the tour is cancelled due to bad weather conditions, you will be offered a reschedule or a full refund.
• Disadvantages of this option: Small boats tend to cause more discomfort for people sensitive to water transport. The language in which the tour is narrated is not specified (probably English). No hotel pick-up/drop-off (additional cost only).

Part of this tour takes place in the waters of Faxaflói Bay, where, in addition to the diversity of cetaceans in the region, you will have the opportunity to see more wildlife in their natural habitat, such as puffins, gannets and other species.

This tour takes place on large boats (up to 180 passengers), with indoor seating areas and equipped with heating.

This cruise is offered in two versions: a 3.5-hour cruise or a 2.5-hour express cruise. So you can choose the one that best suits your time.

Interesting details

• Price: From 79 euros.
• Duration: Two versions available to choose from: 2.5 or 3.5 hours.
• Means of transport: Boats with a capacity of up to 180 passengers and covered areas.
• Advantages of this option: If you don't get to see whales, you will receive a free ticket for another day's attempt. Also, if the tour is cancelled due to bad weather, you can reschedule or get a full refund. They operate an app called Special Tours in several languages (including Spanish). The covered areas of the boat are an additional protection for people intolerant to extreme cold.
• Disadvantages of this option: They do not pick you up/drop you off at your hotel (additional cost option).

This tour is for a night as surprising as it is magical, as the Northern Lights are the stars of the show .

Iceland's Arctic location and almost pristine atmospheremake it one of the best places to see the Northern Lights, one of nature's greatest and most amazing spectacles.

The best time to do this is betweenSeptember and March, and there are many tours available on the island to see the northern lights.

The tour I recommend here is done in a small boat with up to 10 people on board. To improve visibility, the boat heads away from the city towards Faxaflói Bay, where the best night-time scenery awaits you.

Interesting details

• Price: From 78 euros.
• Duration: The tour lasts two and a half hours.
• Means of transport: The experience takes place on board a small boat (with a maximum of 10 passengers on board).
• Advantages of this option: The boat has an enclosed heated area, which is very convenient, especially on freezing winter nights. Photos taken on the tour are available for free download. Photo assistance can be requested from the crew in charge. The circuit makes available an app called Special Tours in several languages (including Spanish). If the sky conditions to see the lights are suitable, but the sea conditions are not, you will be offered to change the tour to a land tour (at the same cost). On the other hand, if you do the tour and there are no sightings, you will get another ticket to join the tour on another day (open validity). And, if the tour is cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions, you will be offered a ticket for another date or a full refund.
• Disadvantages of this option: This is a tour particularly subject to weather and sea conditions. Changes, cancellations or rescheduling must be taken into account. The cold experienced on deck, at night and in winter, can be uncomfortable for people who are not very tolerant to these extreme conditions.

If you enjoy the art of fishing, this tour is for you. On this tour, you will be provided with the necessary equipment and instruction to go out and try your hand at fishing for species such as cod and haddock, common sources of protein in this part of the world.

The advantage of fishing trips is that they are also a great opportunity to encounter other wildlife, such as whales and dolphins, as well as various birds that may also be hunting for fish.

It is done in small boats (up to 9 passengers). You have the option to pick up your catch and take it with you at the end of the circuit or you can grill it on the spot!

Interesting details

• Price: From 96 euros.
• Duration: The tour lasts 3 hours.
• Means of transport: The tour takes place on board a comfortable traditional fishing boat.
• Advantages of this option: You finish the tour with fish, either to take away or to grill on the spot. In addition to the fish, the tour gives you the chance to see other animals such as whales, dolphins and birds. The tour is available on the Special Tours app in several languages (including Spanish). If the tour is cancelled due to unsuitable weather conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund. Similarly, if the minimum number of passengers (9 people) is not covered, you will be offered a change of date or a full refund.
• Inconveniences of this option: Apart from possible cancellations and/or changes due to weather conditions, there are no major inconveniences with this tour.

If you're looking for a tour that takes you out to sea, but also includes attractions in the popular Golden Circle, this is an excellent option.

In the morning, this tour takes you on a boat trip to look for whales and dolphins in the waters of Faxaflói Bay, and in the afternoon, it continues into the Golden Circle to visit the geothermal area of Geysir and the Gullfoss Waterfall.

The full-day tour is well worth the effort to cover at least three of the island's most visited attractions.

Details of interest

• Price: From 167 euros.
• Duration: 10 hours.
• Means of transport: The first part of the tour is done by boat, then you board a bus for the Golden Circle attractions.
• Advantages of this option: It is a very comprehensive route to see three major attractions in Iceland. If the tour is cancelled due to weather conditions, you will be offered a change to another date or a full refund.
• Disadvantages of this option: The tour language is not specified (possibly English included).

If you want to take a tour to see the Northern Lights but are looking for an even more splendid night... How about an elegant dinner before heading out to hunt for the lights in the sky?

This tour starts at one of Reykjavík's best places to eat, the Kopar restaurant. A six-course dinner of local specialities will be the prelude to the nightly light show.

After the quiet and cosy dinner, you will be met at the departure harbour (one minute walk from the restaurant) to board the boats and continue this extraordinary night gazing at the celestial canopy.

Details of interest

• Price: From 132 euros.
• Duration: This experience lasts 5 hours.
• Means of transport: The Northern Lights tour takes place on board a cruise ship with a maximum of 6 passengers.
• Advantages of this option: You will be able to taste 6 carefully chosen dishes for an unforgettable dinner in a luxurious restaurant in the city. In case the tour is cancelled due to unfavourable weather conditions, a change to another date or a full refund is offered.
• Disadvantages of this option: The guide is transmitted in two languages, it is not specified which, but surely English is one of these.

Puffins are friendly birds found in the cold waters of the Atlantic and their exceptional beauty and behaviour attract many birdwatchers and bird fanatics.

Iceland is home to an estimated half of the puffin population, although it is only possible to see them on land when they nest from May to August.

On this tour, you will have the opportunity to see Iceland's largest colony of puffins, as well as other native species.

Details of interest

• Price: From 42 euros.
• Duration: The tour lasts 1 hour.
• Means of transport: On board a small boat (9 passengers maximum).
• Advantages of this option: They run an app called Special Tours in several languages (Spanish included). You will see the largest colony of these birds in Iceland up close.
• Disadvantages of this option: It is not specified if there are any changes or refunds in case of cancellation due to adverse weather conditions.

• The first thing to bear in mind is that Iceland is closer to the North Pole than almost any other destination you may have been to. This means that it is very cold! For example, in winter, the average temperature is between 1°C and 2°C, and in summer it is around 12°C.
• In addition to low temperatures, winds and precipitation also play their part, and being exposed to these conditions on the deck of a ship in winter (if you're looking for northern lights or whales) and at night (on some tours) can make for a less than pleasant experience.
• For this reason, travel well prepared! Pack the best warm clothes you have to cover your whole body and a waterproof garment as well. However, many tours provide thermal suits, but I recommend you not to be overconfident and wait until you are there to get warm enough.
• Also, when it comes to boat tours, it will be very useful to carry motion sickness tablets. Even if you don't normally need them, the conditions here change your body's reactions and you may need them.
• With the weather being so aggressive and changeable, tours can be modified or cancelled. Just keep this in mind and, while everything is done to make sure you don't miss the attractions, the safety of both visitors and tour operators always comes first.