My daughter and I are doing the Ring road in 11 nights in late May 2025. We will be sleeping in Siglufjordur for one night and making our way to Husavik for the next night. My question is this: should I rush through Akureyri and Myvatn in order to catch the cruise or not? How sure are we to see whales? ( I know it's one of the best locations up there). And I also know there is a lot to see in those two places on the way. After one night in Husavik, we'll be travelling to Seydisfjordur, so we won't be able to backtrack to Akureyri and Myvatn.Thanks.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
3007 posts
I would do the cruise. The chances to see whales out of Husavik is something like 98%. Myvatn has a few things, but honestly, you can skip it or just make very quick stops. Akureyri has a lot around it, all around the Trollaskagi Peninsula, so I would focus my time on this vs the city itself. We are doing this again in August and doing a whale watching cruise.
Seeing whales in Iceland is always a treat. Even though we have them here at home near Seattle. we still get excited when we see them there. Are you going to Westmann Islands at all? We were on a boat ride there in a zodiac and a pod of orcas came right up to us. So you never know where else you may see them.
Posted by
OP
Ottawa, Canada
67 posts
Thank you! That is exactly what we will do. I just booked the last cruise of the day so it will give us time to explore on the way there. We will do a daytrip to the Westman Islands in the south as well. I am hoping to see puffins there and in Seydisfjordur in the east.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
3007 posts
We did not see any puffins in Seydisfjordur, but it is a cute little town and great even if you don't see them. At Heimaey, there is a puffin lookout on the very southern tip of the island. Go early in the morning or late at night as otherwise they are flying around fishing. Early mornings and later at night though, they are back on land at their nests. We tried a couple nights with no luck, but going early in the morning was perfect. I think we got there by about 6:30am, literally after brushing our teeth and throwing clothes on, lol. We had the lookout to ourselves for over an hour. We did the 2 hour rib boat safari tour there at Heimaey and it was so much fun! The pod of orcas was a real surprise for us, and it was just beyond words. The boat captain turned the boat off as soon as he saw the whales, but then the whales came to us. Nobody on the boat said a word, but cameras and GoPro's were getting a lot of use. They were within 10-15' of the boat. Even if we had not seen the whales, that tour was a blast and worth it on its own, FWIW.
Posted by
OP
Ottawa, Canada
67 posts
According to RS' map, we would have to drive up from Seydisfjordur to Borgarfjordur to see the puffins, which i intend to do.
As for Heymaei, we plan to take the 1st ferry over in the morning. ( 8:15 am). Hopefully, we can catch them as well at the tip of the island. We'll try for sure. I still have to read in more details about that island, but are you saying that you can take a rib boat tour off that tip?
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
3007 posts
The rib boat tours go from the top of the island, right by where the ferry docks. The puffin lookout is at the southern end. As for the puffins, you will miss then on land by that hour, but can still watch them flying around. Are you staying overnight?
Posted by
OP
Ottawa, Canada
67 posts
No overnight. Only day trip. I just looked up the puffin marina in Hafnarholmi and it looks like this is the place we'll be able to see them from up close. There is a whale and puffin cruise from Husavik but it's only once a day at 11 am and it would be too early for us.
Posted by
Snohomish, WA
3007 posts
If you take that 8:15 ferry you could do the whale/puffin tour. The puffin marina is a good option though too. The great thing about Iceland is there is no wrong answer:)
Posted by
OP
Ottawa, Canada
67 posts
Ok, I'll check that tour, thanks. I hope I have enough with one day on this island.