Iceland is a Wildlife Lover’s Dream—Here’s What To Do There

The fertile sub-Arctic waters that surround Iceland attract more than 20 different cetacean species, including humpback, minke, and sperm whales. Iceland is one of the best places in the world for whale watching all year-round, but especially during the summer when its shores become a huge feeding ground for migrating whales. A cruise provides a front-row seat to the action, and they depart from all around the country, from the Old Harbour in Reykjavik to Akureyri and Húsavik in the north.

Birders flock to Iceland to catch a glimpse of its abundant seabird life, including gannets, guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, and kittiwakes. The biggest crowd pleasers, however, are the colorful, clownish Atlantic puffins that nest there during the spring and summer. Around 60 percent of the world’s population of Atlantic puffins (around 8–10 million a year) nest in Iceland, making it one of the most reliable places to see them. Puffin-watching tours are available around the country, from Reykjavík to Husavík, and often include the opportunity to spot whales.

Brought by settlers from Norway more than 1,000 years ago, the Icelandic horse is a sturdy and gentle beast, and the only horse breed capable of performing five gaits (the extra one is a smooth 4-beat gait called tölt). It’s also the only horse breed you’ll find in the country, because Icelandic law prevents other kinds from being imported. Ride through the countryside on a guided horseback tour, which typically include pickup from Reykjavík.

In September and October, Icelandic farmers gather their sheep and horses down from the mountains where they've spent the summer months running free. Visitors can watch the spectacle of farmers collecting and sorting their horses and sheep before the winter sets in during the annual tradition of the réttir (roundup). This activity takes place around the country, but the biggest and most spectacular one at Laufskálarétt corral takes place on the last weekend of September in Hjaltadalur, a valley in the northwest.

Before humans settled Iceland in the 9th century, the arctic fox was the only land mammal that lived there. As the country’s only native mammal, this small fox breed is well adapted to survive in harsh conditions. While they are spread around the country, your best chances of seeing them are in the Westfjords, particularly in the north of the Hornstrandir Reserve, where they’re protected. You can also learn more about the animal by visiting the Arctic Fox Center in the Westfjords village of Sudavík.

Like the Icelandic horse and sheep, the reindeer is not native to Iceland but was brought over from Norway in the late 18th century. Poor grazing conditions meant that few of the transplanted reindeer lasted long in Iceland, but there are around 3,000 of them that still roam around the east and northeast. The reindeer typically stick to higher elevations during the summer and the coast during the winter, so you’ll have a better chance of spotting them in the colder months, typically between Vopnafjordur on the northern coast and the small town of Seydisfjordur.

Icelandic culture is closely connected to seals and selkies, mythological creatures that shape-shift between seal and human form. A number of harbor seal colonies reside on the country’s coastline, from Reykjavik to the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. At Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, you might spot them lazing on the icebergs that dot Diamond Beach. Or look for them at Vatnsnes Peninsula, home to the Icelandic Seal Center at Hvammstangi.