Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

Húsavík’s RIB whale safari puts you close to the action in Skjálfandi Bay, where humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and even the occasional blue whale may appear. The small boat can turn quickly and cover more water than a standard whale-watching vessel, while the guide keeps watch for movement on the sea.

I like two things especially: the boat carries no more than 12 people, and the crew provides warm safety overalls before you leave. The guides, including Clara, Mario, Miro, Nicoletta, and Victoria, are praised for clear wildlife explanations and real excitement when an animal appears.

The trade-off is the ride itself. A RIB is quick and thrilling, but waves can make it rough and cold. The puffins may sit some distance from the boat, and no wildlife sighting can be promised, even with reported whale chances of up to 99 percent.

Key points to know before you book

• Two hours on a fast RIB: You cover more of Skjálfandi Bay than you usually can on a slower boat.
• Small group of up to 12: The setup gives you a better chance of seeing over shoulders and hearing the guide.
• Puffins are seasonal: Puffin Island is part of the trip from about April 15 through August 15.
• Warm overalls are supplied: You still need warm, waterproof clothes, especially for the exposed ride home.
• Whales are the main event: Outside puffin season, the tour puts more attention on whales and dolphins.
• The boat ride is physical: You need to be at least 8 years old and 130 centimeters tall, and the trip is not suitable for pregnant women or people with heart or back problems.

Why this Húsavík RIB safari is different

Húsavík is widely known as Iceland’s whale-watching center, and this trip makes good use of its position on Skjálfandi Bay. Instead of settling into a large, slow boat, you ride an inflatable RIB with a maximum of 12 people. That smaller craft can change direction quickly when a whale surfaces or a pod of dolphins crosses the route.

The listed price is about $180.27 per person. That is not a bargain-priced boat ride, but the cost includes the professional guide, live commentary, required safety overalls, and rain gear when needed. You are paying for a short, focused outing rather than a full-day cruise, with speed and maneuverability as the main advantages.

The tour has a 4.8 rating from 417 ratings, and 94 percent of people recommend it. I would treat those numbers as a sign of steady service, not as a promise that every departure will produce a spectacular whale show. Nature controls the schedule here.

Getting ready at the Gentle Giants office

You meet at the Gentle Giants ticket center on Garðarsbraut in Húsavík. The departure point is within walking distance of many places to stay in town, and public transportation is nearby. You should arrive at least 40 minutes before departure, since the crew needs time to prepare you for the boat.

The overalls are not a decorative extra. They are thick, one-piece safety suits that help keep wind and spray off your clothes. They also provide warmth during the fast ride across open water. A life vest is used as well, and rain jackets are available if conditions call for them.

Wear warm layers under the suit and bring waterproof clothing anyway. One person described the boat ride as very cold despite the protective gear, while another found the overalls kept them warm in temperatures below freezing. Both points can be true: the suit helps a lot, but a RIB moving across cold water still exposes you to wind.

Leave large bags behind if possible. Keep your phone in a secure pocket, and bring a camera with a useful zoom if puffin photographs matter to you. The birds can be seen clearly with your eyes, but they may look small in ordinary phone pictures.

Riding the RIB across Skjálfandi Bay

Once everyone is dressed, the captain takes the boat out toward the bay. The ride is part of the attraction. The RIB moves quickly, allowing the crew to search a wider area in the two-hour window and respond quickly when wildlife appears.

RIB seating is individual rather than a long bench. One detailed account compared the seating position to a motorcycle or snowmobile, with room to bend your knees or rise slightly as the boat meets a wave. That matters because the boat can hit the water firmly at speed.

On a calm day, the speed feels like pure fun. In rougher conditions, it can be tiring, and you need to follow the captain’s instructions. The crew has operated in significant waves, but safe handling does not make the sea smooth. If you have back trouble, heart problems, or are pregnant, this is not the right excursion.

The small boat also improves the viewing experience. You are not packed into a large cabin, and the captain can pivot toward a whale more easily. That does not mean the RIB can approach recklessly. The crew must keep a safe distance, and the animal decides how close it will come.

Stop 1: Searching for whales and dolphins

The central part of the trip is the search for gentle giants in the bay. Your guide watches the water and explains the animals you may encounter, while the captain works out where to go next. The best moments come when the search pays off: a humpback lifting its back, a whale showing its tail, or dolphins racing near the boat.

Humpbacks are the most frequently noted highlight. Some outings have produced several animals, with one particularly strong departure seeing more than 10 humpbacks. Other trips have found five separate whales, several sightings of the same animals, or three different whale species.

Minke whales are also possible, though they can be shy and harder to track. Dolphins and porpoises add another kind of excitement. A large dolphin pod has been seen jumping and playing around the RIB, while other outings have produced whales and dolphins on the same run.

Rare sightings are possible but should never be your reason for booking. One early-season trip found a blue whale and followed it for about 30 minutes, while humpbacks appeared within the first 20 minutes. That is an extraordinary result, not a normal itinerary.

The guide makes a real difference when the sea is busy with movement. Guides such as Clara, Mario, Miro, Nicoletta, and Victoria have been singled out for explaining behavior, migration, and species differences in an approachable way. You are not simply pointed toward a distant back; you are given context for what you are seeing.

Still, whale watching involves waiting and uncertainty. The boat can search hard and come back with only brief glimpses. If no whales or dolphins appear, a refund is not provided. Depending on availability, the operator may offer a voucher for a free traditional whale-watching trip instead.

Puffin Island from April through August

During the approximate puffin season, from April 15 through August 15, the RIB heads toward Lundey, commonly called Puffin Island. The island is used by large numbers of nesting puffins, and the sight of birds flying around the water or resting on the sea can be memorable.

The boat cannot always get close to the island. Tides, sea conditions, and safe viewing distances affect the approach, so you should not expect a close-up bird photography session. A phone camera may struggle. A camera with a strong zoom gives you a much better chance of showing the birds clearly.

Puffins can also be seen in the water around the boat, not only on the island. The timing of the season matters, though. If you visit at the end of August, you should expect the emphasis to shift to whales, since puffin season is generally over by then.

I would book this trip in summer if puffins are essential to your plans. If whales are your priority, the operator places more focus on whale watching outside the puffin period. The exact wildlife mix always depends on the day.

What the guide and captain add

The strongest part of this experience is not only the animals. It is the way the crew handles the search. The captain must balance speed, safety, sea conditions, and the need to give everyone a view. The guide scans the water, explains the sightings, and helps the group understand why the boat is changing direction.

That teamwork is especially useful in a small RIB. You may have only a few seconds to spot a whale before it disappears, so clear instructions matter. A guide who tells you where to look can turn a quick surface appearance into a satisfying sighting.

The commentary is live and in English. You can expect information about the animals and their behavior rather than a recorded script. Several guides have been praised for being both enthusiastic and careful about the people on board. That combination helps when the sea gets rough or the animals are difficult to track.

You should also expect genuine enthusiasm from the crew when something unusual appears. A guide reacting with surprise to a blue whale or getting excited about a rare minke sighting can make the moment feel shared, without taking attention away from the animal.

Is $180.27 good value for two hours?

At roughly $180.27, this is a premium two-hour activity. The value depends on what you want from a whale trip. If you want the lowest possible price or a longer time on the water, compare it with other Húsavík options before booking.

I think the price makes more sense if you value a small group, a fast boat, warm protective gear, and a captain who can move quickly around the bay. The maximum of 12 people is important. You have less chance of being blocked by a crowd, and the guide can speak to a compact group more easily.

The price also covers the preparation that keeps you comfortable and safe. You do not need to rent a suit, and you receive live commentary throughout the outing. Selected local partners in Húsavík also offer discounts with the tour ticket, which can add a little value if you plan to eat or shop in town.

The main risk is wildlife uncertainty. You are not buying a guaranteed whale encounter. You are buying a well-equipped search in a place with strong whale activity. That distinction matters, especially when the tour does not offer a passenger refund simply because the animals stay hidden.

Who should choose this tour?

I would choose this RIB safari if you want the boat ride to be part of the adventure. It suits active adults, older children who meet the 8-year-old and 130-centimeter minimum, photographers with a zoom lens, and anyone who prefers a small group over a large cruise boat.

It is also a good fit if you have only a short time in Húsavík. The trip lasts about two hours, and the meeting point is easy to reach from much of town. You can build it into a day without giving up most of your schedule.

Families should think carefully about the seating and motion. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and the boat can bounce over waves. This is not a gentle sightseeing cruise. If anyone in your party has back or heart problems, or is pregnant, choose another way to see the bay.

Puffin lovers should check the date first. The island visit is tied to the breeding season, and poor sea conditions can lead to a change in the plan. If puffins are not present, the tour puts more attention on whales.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

The tour runs only in favorable weather and requires a minimum number of passengers. If bad weather forces a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number is not reached, with an alternative date or experience also offered.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted.

The puffin stop may be skipped even at short notice if weather or sea conditions change. That is a sensible safety rule, but it means you should not treat Puffin Island as an absolute promise.

Should you book the Gentle Giants RIB safari?

Book it if you want a lively, small-group whale trip with a skilled captain, strong wildlife commentary, and a real chance of seeing several species in two hours. The RIB gives you speed and a more personal view, while the supplied overalls make the cold more manageable.

Skip it if you dislike bouncing boats, need guaranteed wildlife, or mainly want close puffin photographs. For everyone else, this is a strong choice from Húsavík, especially between mid-April and mid-August when puffins can join the whale search. Pack warm layers, arrive 40 minutes early, secure your phone, and let the crew handle the scanning.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour departs from the Gentle Giants Whale Watching ticket center at Garðarsbraut, 640 Húsavík, Iceland. The activity returns to the same meeting point.

How long does the RIB tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

What wildlife might I see?

You may see humpback whales, minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and puffins during the breeding season. Rare sightings, including a blue whale, are possible but cannot be promised.

When is Puffin Island included?

The approximate puffin season runs from April 15 through August 15. Outside that period, the tour places more focus on whales.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a professional guide, live commentary, warm safety overalls, and rain jackets when needed. Selected local partners in Húsavík also offer discounts.

What should I bring?

Bring warm and waterproof clothing. A camera with a zoom can help if you want clearer puffin photographs, since the boat may need to keep some distance from the island.

Who cannot join the tour?

The minimum age is 8 years and the minimum height is 130 centimeters. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The trip is not suitable for people with heart or back problems or for pregnant women.