Whale Watching in Iceland

There are many places where one can sail a boat and get a glimpse of these beautiful creatures of the sea in Iceland. Today, we are going to visit the small fishing town of Husavik, located just off the far north side of Iceland.

You can reach Husavik easily from the capital city of Reykjavík in your Kuku Camper  van. The 5 and a half hour drive is well worth the travel on North Route 1, where you’ll  have opportunities to drive bridges crossing the atlantic bay while soaking in the  lush green vegetation of the mountains and fields.

If you’ve never been whale watching, let me tell you – it is not a show that you sit back  and watch. It is an event you experience up close and in person. There is nothing that  compares to being a mere few feet away from these glorious mammals of the oceans  – these spectacular creatures humble and gracious enough to let humans come  close and admire their beauty.

Finding overnight parking in Husavik 

Husavik is the port to a great deal of Iceland’s fishing, as well as other species such  as puffin birds and gulls, who also enjoy fishing in these waters that team with an  abundance of all types of fish.  When you visit the town of Husavik, you can check in with your Camper van at  the Husavik Campground, which offers parking for camper vans, and also offers  public restrooms. From there, you are just minutes walking distance away to the bay  where you can catch a Whale Watching Tour with the North Sailing company.

Book a 3-hour tour with North Sailing 

North Sailing offers what they call ‘Eco-Friendly’ whale watching, a concept inspired  by the mission to be more responsible and consertative to the human interaction  between the marine animals.

“North Sailing aims to be a Responsible Whale Watching Operator according to the  Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society’s (WDCS) definition. That includes being truly responsible and sustainable to cetaceans and the marine environment as well  as being truly beneficial to passengers, operators and communities.

North Sailing ́s whale watching tours therefore include:

• A prime recreational and educational experience for our guests, which  motivates them to care about cetaceans.
• An experience that seeks to reduce the impact on whales, so that whales are  watched with the lightest “footprint” possible.
• Opportunities for researchers to gather scientific information and publish  findings to managers and the public.
• An experience built around a nature guide who can provide accurate  information, help to find the whales and describe their behavior.
• The active involvement of the community, enabling a financial as well as a  personal interest in whale watching and the conservation of cetaceans and  the sea.
  Source North Sailing Responsible Whale Watching 

Once on the boat, you will be sailed out onto the bay waters where you can see for  yourself these whales that have called Iceland their home far longer than any human  has. There are nearly dozens of types of whales that harvest these waters for smaller  fish, including:

The Orca Whale (Killer Whales) 

These distinctive creatures, who are relatives of the dolphin family, are quickly  recognizable from their outer black skin and white spots. Don’t be too intimidated if  you’re watching at the edge of the boat and several suddenly jump out of nowhere,  just yards away from where you stand!

Humpback whales 

Humpback whales are common throughout the globe in every ocean. The Icelandic  shores are no different! Humpback whales are large in size and can grow in size of  up to 50 feet in length.

Blue Whales 

You may have heard that blue whales are the largest mammal known to exist on the  planet – but no one fully understands these facts until they see the large body of one  calmly and politely swim by the small sail boat on the waves above.

Blue whales are beautiful creatures that carry many natural resources that at one  time were highly sourced. Whale oil and baleen were two commodities that were  highly sought after in Europe and the United States, and unfortunately, almost drove  these beautiful creatures extinct due to their high demand.  Thanks to more and more whaling prohibition laws, these awesome creatures have  been able to slowly repopulate their numbers.

These 3 hour tours of riding the bay waters offer multiple breaks in between where  your tourist guide will take time to share interesting information regarding the  whales species, as well as take the time to point things out to you that you might  have missed on your own. Even at three hours, these tours fly by so quickly, and you’ll  feel like you were sailing for merely 20 minutes.

Visit the local attractions when you get back to shore 

With the rest of the day to yourself, you’ll have lots of opportunity to visit the Whale  Museum in Husavik, a non-profit organization where you can learn more about these  amazing animals of the sea, what their diet looks like, how you can tell how old a  whale is based on their ear wax – lots of cool facts! The great thing is that proceeds  help to fund awareness and efforts to keep whales safe and free in their natural  habitat.

You must also dine in at the Gamli Baukur, an Icelandic Restaurant that serves all  types of authentic foods. If you have a love for fish, you’ll be pleased to know that you  can order and eat fish that was literally caught fresh from the sea earlier in the day –  a rare treat that not many places can boat about!

By this time, it may be a good idea to walk back to your Camper Van, just  minutes away, and turn in for the night. A good night’s sleep is a wise choice. You’ll  want your full rest, because tomorrow is another day for adventure in Iceland!