Best boat tours and cruises in Iceland

Iceland is one of the most fascinating ecotourism destinations. This island that combines volcanoes and hot springs along with chunks of icebergs, frozen caves and a magically illuminated sky during the winter is a dream place for travelers.

Besides being a modest and welcoming city, Reykjavik offers several attractions for travelers. The ports of this city are the link to know the natural wonders of the Arctic areas, with organized tours to see the puffins, the many species of whales, fishing and even to see the magical aurora borealis. I tell you more in this post.

Whale watching is one of the most popular activities to do on a boat in Iceland. The remote location of the island together with the climatic conditions make the waters surrounding its coasts a favorite for these enormous cetaceans.

There are many excursions for tourists that take advantage of this natural spectacle, which reaches its peak of observation in the months of April to September. The species that can be found include humpback whales, killer whales, blue whales and also some species of dolphins.

The tour I recommend here departs from Reykjavik's old harbor. Here are more details.

Interesting details

• Price: From 76 euros.
• Duration: This excursion has a duration of 3 hours.
• Means of transport: The tour is done aboard a boat with capacity for up to 150 passengers and 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 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 is done 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 boats is that, with these it is possible to get a little closer to the animals (of course, within the space of non-disturbance) compared to the larger ones. The tour will also go along the coasts of some small nearby islands in Faxaflói Bay where you will be able to see the cute puffins in breeding season (May to August).

The tour also departs from the oldest harbor in the capital, Reykjavík.

Details of interest

• Price: From 122 euros.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• Means of transportation: On board a small boat (up to 12 people) with an expert guide.
• Advantages of this option: Sailing on 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 change of date or a full refund.
• Disadvantages of this option: Small boats tend to produce more discomfort for people sensitive to water transportation. 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, Atlantic gannets and other species.

This tour is done in large boats (up to 180 passengers), with indoor seating areas and equipped with heating.

This cruise is offered in two versions: one of 3.5 hours or, the express, 2.5 hours. So you can choose the one that best suits your schedule.

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 with covered areas.
• Advantages of this option: If you do not get to see whales, you will receive a free ticket for another day. Also, if the tour is cancelled due to bad weather, you will be able to change to another date or receive a full refund. They operate an app called Special Tours in several languages (Spanish included). The covered areas of the ship 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 excursion is to spend a night as surprising as magical, because here the protagonists are the northern lights.

The location of Iceland in the Arctic together with an almost unpolluted atmosphere, place this country among the ideal to contemplate the northern lights, one of the best and most amazing spectacles of nature.

The best season to do so is betweenthe months of September to March, being many tours available on the island to see the northern lights.

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

Interesting details

• Price: From 78 euros.
• Duration: The tour lasts two and a half hours.
• Means of transportation: The experience takes place aboard a small boat (with a maximum of 10 passengers on board).
• Advantages of this option: The boat has an enclosed area with heating, which is very convenient, especially on freezing winter nights. Photos taken on the tour are available for free download. Assistance in taking pictures can be requested from the crew in charge. The circuit makes available an application called Special Tours in several languages (Spanish included). 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 (same cost). On the other hand, if you do the tour and there are no sightings, you will get another ticket to join the circuit another day (open validity). And, if the tour is cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions, you will be offered the ticket for another date or a full refund.
• Disadvantages of this option: This is a tour especially 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 luck as a fisherman with species such as cod and pollock, common sources of protein in this part of the world.

The advantage of fishing excursions 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 (with 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 right there!

Details of interest

• Price: From 96 euros.
• Duration: The tour lasts 3 hours.
• Means of transport: The tour is done aboard 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 fish, on the tour you have the chance to see other animals, such as whales, dolphins or birds. The tour has the Special Tours application available in several languages (Spanish included). 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: Beyond the possible cancellations and/or changes due to the weather, there are no major inconveniences with this tour.

If you are looking for a tour that takes you by the sea, but also includes attractions of the popular Golden Circle, this is an excellent option.

During the morning, this tour will take you by boat to look for cetaceans in the waters of Faxaflói Bay, and in the afternoon, it will continue in the Golden Circle to visit the geothermal area of Geysir and the Gullfoss Waterfall.

The full-day tour is well worth it 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 circuit is done by boat, then you board a bus for the Golden Circle attractions.
• Advantages of this option: It is a very complete 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 the best places to eat in Reykjavik, the Kopar restaurant. A six-course dinner of local specialties will be the prelude to the nightly light show.

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

Details of interest

• Price: From 132 euros.
• Duration: This experience has a duration of 5 hours.
• Means of transportation: The tour for the Northern Lights takes place aboard 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 unfavorable 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 ones, but surely English is one of these.

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

In Iceland, it is estimated that half of the population of these birds live, although it is only possible to observe them on land when they nest in the months of May to August.

On this tour, you will have the opportunity to see the largest colony of puffins in Iceland, 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 manage an application 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 changes or refunds in case of cancellation due to adverse weather conditions.

• The first thing to keep 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, during the winter (if you are looking for northern lights or whales) and at night (on some tours) can make the experience not the most pleasant.
• For this reason, travel well prepared! Pack the best warm clothes you have to cover your whole body and a waterproof garment as well. In any case, many tours provide thermal suits, but I recommend you not to trust and wait until you are there to get warm enough.
• Also, in the case of boat tours, it will be very useful to carry pills for motion sickness. Even if you don't normally require them, the conditions here modify the body's reactions and you may need them.
• With the weather being so aggressive and changeable, tours may 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.