Nestled on the edge of Skjálfandi Bay, the town of Húsavík is globally recognised as one of the best locations in the world from which to watch whales. In fact, there is a higher chance of seeing whales in Húsavík than any other place in Iceland.
So, if you’re ever considering where to go whale-watching, our town is without a doubt, second to none. Different companies offer whale watching tours either on traditional oak boats or RIB speedboats.
The first scheduled whale-watching tours in the whole of Iceland started here, in the mid-90s, following requests by passing tourists. Since then, the industry has boomed and made Húsavík a household name, often branded ‘The Whale Capital of Iceland‘. The most common questions about whale watching are collected and answered in the FAQ.
Whale Species
Altogether, 23 species of whale have been spotted in Icelandic waters. The most typical visitors to Skjálfandi Bay are humpback, minke, white-beaked dolphin, harbour porpoise and blue whale. Here is a list of all species that have been potted in the bay.
Due to their playful nature and incredible acrobatic displays humpback whales are amongst the most entertaining animals to watch at sea. Lucky whale watchers here can see them feeding, breaching (jumping out), slapping (slapping their flippers against the water) or spyhopping (poking their head above the water to see what’s near).
Another frequent visitor to the bay is the blue whale, the largest known animal ever to have existed on Earth. Its tongue alone can weigh the same as an elephant, and its heart the same as a car.
To see these creatures in the wild is truly breath-taking.
Whale Watching Companies
There are four different companies offering whale-watching trips here in Húsavík: Gentle Giants, Húsavík Adventures, North Sailing and Salka Whale Watching. All the companies have very friendly, multilingual guides who are passionate about whales, many of them working for the companies for many many years.
The local companies are also active participants in the education and research of the whales. Húsavík´s harbor is a hive of activity in this respect, because as well as the four whale-watching companies that use the docks, there is the Whale Museum and the University of Iceland´s research center. There are partnerships between these organizations and the whale-watching companies, with many boat trips containing researchers.
Click on the logos below to learn more about each company and their offers:
