Ecotour activities in Húsavík
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Whale Watching
Húsavík lies on the edge of Skjálfandi, a wide, deep bay with good water circulation, natural shelter and little variation in tides - ideal conditions for whales. The area has become Iceland's premier whale-watching destination, with 12 species coming here to feed in summer.
Minke whales are by far the most common species seen in the bay, with regular sightings of white-beaked dolphins, humpback whales and porpoises and less frequent appearances by orcas, fin, sei or pilot whales, and the 'big one' - blue whales.
It takes about an hour to sail to the prime feeding grounds, where crew and participants get busy looking out for telltale signs of a surfacing whale. Although…
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Whale Watching, Norður Sigling
The original whale watching operator is Norður Sigling, which started whale watching here in 1994. It has four boats, including the 20-tonne oak schooner Haukur. Trips run up to four times daily from mid-May to mid-September. Hot chocolate and pastries are provided during the trip, but it's still a good idea to wrap up well before departure as it can be bitterly cold out on the boat, no matter how warm it feels in town.
In early and late season both operators may have only one departure daily, so check in advance. If there are no sightings, you can usually get on another trip for free.
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