Reykjavík Classic Puffin Watching

📍 Reykjavík, Iceland

4.5 ( 4,847 reviews)

See them in the wild

From

Duration1 hour

FitnessEasy

CancellationFree cancellation 24 hours before starting time.

🔒Secure payment

✅Instant confirmation

🏅EarthCheck

🏅World Cetacean Alliance Approved

Overview

Our classic puffin tours offer an intimate and enjoyable adventure on a small boat, providing a unique opportunity to observe puffins, often referred to as the clowns of the sea, in their natural habitat from late April to mid-August. The tour takes you to one of three islands (Engey, Akurey or Lundey) known for their abundant birdlife, depending on the tides and conditions. While we don’t land on the islands, the captains expertly navigate close to the shores, allowing for an up-close experience with the puffins without disturbing their nesting areas. In addition to puffins, you’ll have the chance to see other bird species, such as eider ducks, arctic terns, guillemots and cormorants. Additionally, there's a chance of spotting other wildlife, such as seals, which adds to the excitement of the tour. The rocky shores of the islands provide the perfect backdrop as our knowledgeable crew shares interesting facts and stories about the puffins and the surrounding environment. If the weather allows, the engines might be turned off, enhancing your experience by letting you fully immerse yourself in the natural sounds of the birds and the environment. This tour is designed to offer a comfortable and memorable way to enjoy Iceland’s stunning wildlife, only a few minutes away from the city centre of Reykjavík.

wildlife highlights

What you will be doing

Check-in

Meet us at our ticket office at least 15 min before departure to check in and receive your boarding card(s). Our team will show you to our boat, which is usually docked at the floating pier in front of our Visitor Centre / Wildlife Exhibition.

Boarding

Our team will greet you on board the puffin boat and welcome you on board. Make sure to have your boarding card(s) readily available to ensure a smooth boarding process. Once on the boat, you are free to walk around, chat with the crew or find the perfect lookout spot!

Puffin Watching

Depending on the tides, we will visit the puffin colonies on either Engey, Akureyri, or Lundey. These three islands, located just off Reykjavík, are known for being breeding grounds for these charming birds during the summer. The islands are protected, so we won't be able to set foot on them, but the captain will sail as close as possible without disturbing their natural behavior. Keep an eye out for seals as well; they can often be seen resting on the rocks or hunting for food. Binoculars are available on board for you to use. The journey to the islands can take up to 15 minutes.

Disembarking

The total duration of the tour is about 1-1,5 hrs. from boarding to disembarking, while the duration spent with the wildlife can vary. We hope you have a pleasant time on the tour and leave with a smile on your faces, as well as everlasting memories.

Things to know

AccessibilityChildren friendly

Fitness levelEasy

Tour languageEnglish

Licence requiredNone

Since the birds are quite petite, we suggest bringing a good zoom lens for capturing high quality, close-up photos
Binoculars are also available to borrow on board if needed
Since this is a wildlife tour, we can never predict or guarantee sightings of any kind
We abide by a Code of Conduct for responsible wildlife watching and thus each encounter is on the animal's terms. This means that we may manoeuvre the boat in a certain way or keep our distance to minimise disturbance. In the event that we don't encounter any puffins, we do not offer refunds, but instead give our passengers a complimentary ticket to use another day.

Inclusions and Exclusions

✅ Included

Guide
Raincoats
Try again for free if no puffin sighting

❌ Not included

Pick up and drop off transport
Refreshments

Where we'll meet

Meet up/Pick up location: Elding's ticket office, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavík, IS

Instruction: Meet 15min before departure time

ReturnThis trip returns to meeting point