Whale watching in Húsavík
The whale-watching industry in Húsavík started after whalers hit by a 1989 moratorium realized that there was still good money to be made by taking tourists out to find the creatures. Despite the resumption of commercial whaling in 2006, whale stocks off Húsavík remain high, and the chances of seeing some are good. Dolphins, porpoises and medium-sized minke whales are encountered most frequently, with much larger humpback whales runners-up; these are identified by lengthy flippers and their habit of “breaching” – making spectacular, crashing leaps out of the water. Similar-looking fin whales are the next most likely candidates, with rarer sightings of colossal blue whales, orca and square-headed sperm whales (for some reason, only males of the last species are seen in Iceland’s waters).
Cruises generally head directly across the bay from Húsavík – this can be rough in a northerly wind – where you’ll come across puffins and other seabirds fishing; the whales obviously move around a lot but boat crews are expert at locating them. Most of the time you’ll see little more than an animal’s back, fluke or tail breaking the surface in the middle distance, and perhaps jets of water vapour as they breathe; if you’re lucky, whales swim right under the boats, lie on their sides looking up at you, or breach. And you might, of course, see nothing at all.
Whale-watching trips run at least daily from May until September, and cost about 10,500kr for three hours, or 18,990kr including puffin-watching around Lundey. Húsavík’s operators include Gentle Giants, North Sailing and Salka; ticket booths are at the top of the harbour and it’s best to buy in advance. There’s little to choose between the operators: all use wooden whaling ships seating around forty people – North Sailing’s rigged sailship is the most attractive, while Salka are marginally the cheapest – and provide essential full waterproof gear, hot drinks and biscuits; bring binoculars and plenty of warm clothing. Alternatively, try a two-hour spin in a speedy rib inflatable with Húsavík Adventures; you cover far more area, but are lower to the water so don’t get quite such good views.
Top image: Husavik with traditional colorful houses and traditional fisherman boats lying in the harbor in golden evening light at sunset, northern coast of Iceland ©canadastock/Shutterstock