Whale Watching
Whales
Whales are large aquatic mammals, also known as cetaceans. Several civilizations, including Icelanders, are known to have hunted them since as early as 875 AD.
Today whaling is a less significant industry, and the ocean’s gentle giants are seen more as a tourist attraction.
In here, you can catch whales splashing around under the Northern Lights or illuminated by the midnight sun, depending on what time of year you visit. Tours depart from Reykjavik and various other locations around Iceland all year round.
Species
Minke Whales
Minke whales are the most common great whale in Iceland’s waters, with many migrating here throughout summer and a few lingering through the winter months.
They are small compared to other species but can still exceed nine meters in length. Their behavior is usually rather shy, but due to their numbers, you can regularly see them from almost all whale-watching ports.
Humpback Whales
Humpback whales also come to Iceland during the summer months.
Unlike minke whales, humpbacks are renowned for their gregarious and acrobatic behavior. Humpback whales are basically the attention-seeking divas of the whale world.
It is common to see them on whale-watching tours, breaching, slapping their tails and flukes, or feeding.
White-Beaked Dolphins
White-beaked dolphins are the most commonly seen dolphin around Iceland, staying close to the shore throughout the year.
They live in pods ranging from a few individuals to a hundred, and, though a bulky species, you can often see them bow-riding, breaching, and playing at the surface.
