Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Tour

The best part of this one-hour puffin tour is the small RIB boat. It can reach the islands and sea cliffs more closely than a large sightseeing vessel, giving you views of puffins on the rocks, in the water, and flying around the boat. The ride itself is part of the fun, with a brisk run across Faxaflói Bay.

I like the easy Old Harbour location and the short length, which makes this a smart addition to a busy Reykjavik day. I also like the practical setup: coveralls, safety gear, and binoculars are supplied, and guides such as Anna, Maria, Mikel, Megan, and Rachel have made the trip both informative and friendly.

The main thing to consider is the rough ride. The RIB can slam over waves, and some passengers find the trip out uncomfortable, especially in windy weather or if they have back problems. Puffins are wild birds, too, so the boat cannot promise a perfect close-up or a large colony late in the season.

Key points to know before booking

• Lundey Island brings the puffins close: The boat heads toward rocky islands and cliffs where puffins gather from May through August.
• The RIB ride is fast and open-air: You get a lively boat trip, but the ride can be bumpy across the bay.
• Guides explain the birds as you watch: Expect facts about puffin behavior, burrows, food, flight, and nesting.
• Warm gear is included: Coveralls and safety equipment help protect you from Iceland’s cold wind and spray.
• Other seabirds add variety: Keep watch for gannets, auks, fulmars, Arctic terns, and possibly seals, porpoises, or whales.
• The tour is short but focused: At $101 per person, it is not cheap, but you spend nearly the whole hour on the water rather than filling time with a long transfer.

Reaching the puffin islands from Reykjavik Old Harbour

You meet at the Whale Safari office in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. There is no hotel pickup, so plan to reach the harbor on your own and allow enough time to find the office before departure.

The harbor setting is convenient if you are staying in central Reykjavik or already planning to visit the waterfront. This is not an all-day outing with a bus ride and several stops. You arrive, receive your gear, board the boat, and head straight into Faxaflói Bay.

Before departure, the crew gives you a short safety briefing. You put on the supplied coveralls and safety equipment, then climb into the RIB and hold the grab rail as the captain gets underway.

The coveralls matter more than they may sound. Iceland’s summer air can feel mild on land, but speed across cold seawater creates a sharp wind. The suits also have useful pockets, which are a good place to keep your phone and glasses instead of holding them during the rougher stretches.

You should still wear warm clothing underneath, along with closed-toe or sports shoes. Do not bring a suitcase or large bag. Space is limited, and loose belongings can become a problem on a small, moving boat.

The RIB ride across Faxaflói Bay

The boat quickly leaves the harbor and heads across Faxaflói Bay. This is a genuine RIB ride, not a quiet cruise. You may bounce over the waves, feel spray, and enjoy bursts of speed as the captain works toward the islands.

That speed has a practical benefit. The RIB covers more water than a slower conventional boat, so the crew can reach the puffin colonies efficiently during a one-hour trip. The boat’s smaller size also allows it to approach rocky edges and inlets more closely, while still keeping a respectful distance from the birds.

The same feature can be a drawback. One passenger described the ride as a constant slam onto the water and found it hard on an older back. A useful technique is to keep both feet planted, hold the handles, and slightly lift yourself from the seat when the boat hits a wave. Keep your phone in a secure coverall pocket until the captain slows down.

The ride may suit you perfectly if you enjoy a little speed and do not mind movement. It is less suitable if you want a calm, smooth wildlife cruise. The tour specifically excludes people with back problems, pregnant women, children under 10, people with mobility impairments, and anyone under 145 centimeters tall.

The crew provides safety equipment and helps with the coveralls. Several departures have been praised for careful captains and reassuring staff, which is important when you are sitting low in an open boat with cold water nearby.

Meeting puffins around Lundey Island

The main wildlife stop is around the small islands and cliffs in Faxaflói Bay, including Lundey Island. Puffins gather here during the nesting season, generally from May through August.

You might see birds perched on the rocks, resting near burrows, floating on the water, or carrying small fish back to their young. When the colony is active, puffins can fill the air and sea around the island. The most memorable moments come when several birds fly close to the RIB, then vanish toward the cliffs or land beside the boat.

The RIB gives you a better angle than a high-sided vessel. You sit close to the water, and the boat can maneuver near rocky inlets where puffins congregate. That does not mean the birds will pose on command. They may fly away, and the boat sometimes has to remain farther from shore because of conditions or wildlife protection.

This is worth keeping in mind when you look at photographs used to promote puffin excursions. You may see the birds clearly, but a phone camera usually needs heavy zoom. The boat is moving, the water is rising and falling, and puffins are not large birds. A camera with a stronger lens will help.

The guides often take photographs with a zoom lens during the trip. On several departures, those images were later sent to participants at no extra cost. This is a useful bonus, but it should not be treated as guaranteed on every departure. One passenger specifically found that the guide and captain had no camera that day, so ask the crew how photographs will be handled and make sure they have your correct email address.

Puffin behavior and the other birds in the bay

The guide does more than point toward a cliff. You learn about puffin habits, food, burrows, flight, and nesting. The timing of the tour can make these details easy to understand because you see the birds acting naturally rather than looking at a display or a static photograph.

Puffins are particularly entertaining when they return from feeding with fish in their bills. You may see them swimming, flying low over the water, or carrying food toward the colony. Their colorful bills are easiest to notice when the bird is close or when binoculars bring it nearer.

Binoculars are included, though one past departure had only two pairs aboard. If birdwatching matters greatly to you, ask about availability at the office and consider bringing your own compact pair if permitted. Large equipment and bags are not suitable for the boat.

Puffins are the main attraction, but the bay supports a wider cast of seabirds. Watch for:

• Gannets, with their striking white bodies and dark wing tips
• Auks and fulmars around the water and cliffs
• Arctic terns, which pass through the area in summer
• Other seabirds gathering around the islands

Wildlife can extend beyond birds. Some departures have also seen seals, harbor porpoises, and humpback whales. These sightings are possible extras, not part of the puffin guarantee, so book this trip for the puffins first.

The guide and captain work together to give you the best view. The captain handles the boat’s position while the guide explains what you are seeing. On well-run departures, this teamwork is one of the strongest parts of the experience.

What the one-hour schedule feels like

The advertised duration is one hour, and that compact schedule is a real advantage. You can fit the trip into a morning or afternoon without giving up most of your day. It also works well near the end of an Iceland itinerary, when you want one final experience from Reykjavik without arranging another long excursion.

The hour includes the ride out, time around the nesting islands, and the return to the harbor. That means the actual viewing time is shorter than a full hour at the colony. A past passenger reported a trip closer to 50 minutes after a wait for the boat, though most descriptions present the outing as a one-hour experience.

You should expect a focused visit rather than a slow naturalist expedition. The RIB travels quickly, reaches the islands, pauses for bird viewing, and returns. The pace helps maximize the short schedule, but it leaves little room if weather delays the departure or wildlife is spread out.

May can bring plenty of puffins, even early in the season, while August may offer impressive activity with birds flying, feeding, and carrying fish. By early September, many puffins have left Iceland’s nesting sites, and the colony may be much thinner. For the strongest odds, choose a departure between May and August and avoid treating the trip as a guaranteed wildlife performance.

Is $101 a fair price?

At $101 per person, this is an expensive one-hour activity by ordinary sightseeing standards. Iceland is costly, and the price reflects the RIB, captain, guide, safety equipment, coveralls, and a small-boat route to the islands.

The value is strongest if you want three things at once: close access to puffin habitat, a lively boat ride, and a short schedule. You are not paying only to sit on a boat and look at a distant island. The small craft can cover ground quickly and approach the cliffs more closely than a larger vessel.

The value is weaker if you want a calm ride, a long wildlife session, or guaranteed professional photos. You may also feel the price is high if the captain has to stay far from the rocks or if the colony is near the end of its season.

I would consider it good value for a first Iceland visit with limited time. Seeing hundreds or even thousands of puffins around the islands can make the hour feel packed. If you are already taking several wildlife cruises, compare the ride style and likely viewing area before booking another one.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik boat trip

This excursion suits adults and children aged 10 or older who enjoy wildlife and do not mind a fast, bumpy ride. It is also a good choice for photographers who can work quickly and bring a suitable lens.

You will likely enjoy it if you like a little adventure with your wildlife viewing. The boat provides the excitement, while the guide gives the outing substance. Several guides, including Anna, Maria, Mikel, Megan, and Rachel on different departures, have been praised for clear explanations, humor, and care with passengers.

It is less suitable if you have a back condition, are pregnant, have limited mobility, or are under the height requirement. It is also not the right choice if you dislike open boats or want to keep a large camera bag with you.

The trip can work for families within the age and height rules. Children may enjoy the speed, but adults should make sure everyone understands that the boat can bounce hard over waves.

Practical ways to get better views and better photos

Wear warm layers under the coveralls, even if the sky looks clear when you leave the harbor. Closed-toe sports shoes give you a steadier footing than open sandals.

Keep your phone secured until the boat slows near the islands. The coverall pockets are more useful than your hands, especially during the ride across the bay.

Use the supplied binoculars when a puffin is perched farther up the cliff. For photographs, avoid trying to hold a phone at maximum zoom while the RIB is moving. Watch first, then photograph when the boat is steady.

Give the guide your email address before leaving if the crew is taking pictures. The complimentary images have been a welcome extra on many departures, but the service may vary by crew and day.

Most important, set realistic expectations. You can get close enough for excellent viewing, but you will not necessarily see inside a burrow or photograph every bird at close range. The best experience comes from watching the colony as a living place, not from demanding a perfect portrait.

Should you book the Whale Safari puffin tour?

I would book it if you have one hour in Reykjavik, want to see puffins in their natural setting, and enjoy a fast RIB ride. The Old Harbour meeting point, included warm gear, useful commentary, and strong chance of seeing large numbers of birds make this an efficient choice.

I would hesitate if you have back problems, need a smooth boat, or are visiting after the main May through August season. The $101 price also deserves thought if your main goal is a quiet, extended birdwatching session.

For most eligible visitors in the right season, this is a strong Reykjavik add-on. Choose a good-weather window if you can, secure your phone, listen to the safety briefing, and let the guide point out the small dramas of the colony: birds flying in, feeding, swimming, and returning to the cliffs.

FAQ

Where does the puffin tour meet?

You meet at the Whale Safari office in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour.

How long does the puffin tour last?

The tour lasts one hour, including the RIB ride out to the islands, wildlife viewing, and the return to Reykjavik harbor.

What is included in the ticket?

The tour includes a professional captain and wildlife guide, coveralls, necessary safety equipment, and binoculars.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. You make your own way to the Old Harbour meeting point, and hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

When can I see puffins on this tour?

Puffins nest around the local islands and cliffs between May and August. Sightings may be fewer toward the end of the season.

What other birds might I see?

You might see gannets, auks, fulmars, Arctic terns, and other seabirds around Faxaflói Bay.

What should I wear?

Bring warm, comfortable clothing and closed-toe or sports shoes. Coveralls and safety equipment are supplied.

Who cannot take this tour?

The tour is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, or anyone under 145 centimeters tall. Large bags and luggage are not allowed.