OVERVIEW

Husavik is a small, seaside town located in North East Iceland. It is around 480 km from the capital Reykjavik and about an hours drive from the biggest town in North Iceland – Akureyri. Husavik has become the unofficial whale watching capital in Iceland due to the huge numbers of whales which arrive in the bay each year. The stars of the show are the spectacular leaping displays of migrating humpback whales! As well as whales you can see dolphins and a range of sea bird species. It is important to note that Iceland has a whaling industry and every dollar spent on whale tourism here helps to support those industries which want to keep whales alive and puts pressure on those who want them dead.

Average rating: 3.0 (good)

Average spend per person: $80 ($80 – $80)

Number of reports: 1

Best time to visit: May – September

Typical activities: boat trip, whale watching

Wildlife in Husavik

According to reports submitted to WildSide, the species visitors most want to see here are as follows:

Humpback Whale – 100% OF VISITORS (1/1) REPORTED SIGHTINGS

Northern Atlantic humpback whales migrate to Iceland from their breeding grounds in California each summer. During this time they are often found in shallow waters as they come into the bays and fjords to feed. The population in Icelandic waters is estimated to be around 1,500 to 1,800 individuals.

Whale watching tours are offered from March to November but the main humpback season covers the summer months of May to September. During this time sightings are pretty much guaranteed. While the tours aren’t cheap, and the sea can be harsh, you quickly forget when a 40 tonne humpback breaches beside your boat and covers you with cold, salty spray. To help support the whales in the area make sure you pick a company which has good environmental policies. WildSide recommends North Sailing (you can see their policies here) who offer a silent, carbon neutral tour on electric boats.