Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Puffin Sightseeing Cruise

Seeing puffins from a small boat in Reykjavik’s harbor is the main event here. You cruise about 15 minutes to Akurey Island, circle its rocky shore, then cut the engine for a quiet spell while puffins fly, float, and perch on the island. Bring your own binoculars if you have them. The loaners are useful, but some units and the boat’s speakers have drawn complaints.

I like the short, ship-friendly schedule, with several departure times and a worry-free return promise for cruise passengers. I also like the guides, including Rebekah, Oscar, Joel, and Patricia, who have been praised for making the bird facts lively and easy to follow. The main drawback is distance: even on a good day, puffins can look small, and seating on the little boat affects your view.

Key points to know before booking

• Akurey Island is close to Reykjavik: The boat ride takes about 15 minutes each way, leaving roughly half an hour for viewing and commentary within the one-hour outing.
• Puffins are wild, not guaranteed scenery: Numbers vary with weather and season, and late-season departures may see fewer birds.
• The boat’s size helps and hurts: A shallow-draft boat can work near tricky shoreline areas, but a full boat can make photography difficult.
• Binoculars are supplied: You can borrow a pair, though bringing your own is wise if birdwatching matters to you.
• Harbor pickup needs attention: Complimentary transfers apply at Skarfabakki Harbour. Miðbakki is only a short walk from the departure point.
• The value depends on your expectations: At $63.51 per person, this is a focused wildlife outing, not a broad Reykjavik sightseeing cruise.

Puffins just beyond Reykjavik’s harbor

Puffins are the reason to book this trip, and the setting makes the outing easy to fit into a port day. You leave Reykjavik rather than spending hours on a bus, and Akurey Island appears soon after the boat clears the harbor area.

The island is an outcrop with rocky shores and nesting areas. You do not land there. Instead, the boat circles it, giving you several angles on birds in the water, in flight, and on the island itself. The captain uses a boat designed to reach awkward areas, and its shallow draft can help it work closer to shore than a larger sightseeing vessel.

That does not mean close-up puffin portraits are guaranteed. Environmental limits prevent the boat from simply pulling right up to the nesting birds. Your best views may come through binoculars, especially when puffins are sitting on the island rather than flying near the boat.

The good news is that puffins are active. You might see them bobbing on the sea, disappearing toward burrows, or flying with fish for their young. Several visitors have had days with large numbers of birds, while others found them too distant to make out clearly. Both outcomes are possible, which is worth understanding before you spend part of a limited cruise stop here.

The 15-minute ride to Akurey Island

Once aboard, the journey to the island takes about 15 minutes. That time is not dead space. Your guide begins talking about the area’s flora and fauna, explains what to watch for, and helps you identify birds beyond the puffins.

The boat carries a maximum of 33 people, so this is a small outing rather than a large harbor vessel. A smaller boat gives you a more direct connection to the water and can reach areas that are difficult for deeper-draft boats. It also means that seating matters.

One practical complaint concerns the boat’s layout. If you sit on the starboard side, the right side when facing forward, you may have a better initial view as the boat circles the island. People seated on the opposite side may need to photograph over other passengers or wait for the boat to turn.

Do not treat your seat as a minor detail. Arrive ready to board and pay attention to where the island is as the boat approaches. If the boat is busy, moving around may not be easy once the viewing begins.

Circling the island with binoculars ready

The captain circles Akurey Island while the guide points out puffins and other seabirds, including Arctic terns. You may see birds in three different settings: resting on the water, flying around the boat, and gathering on the cliffs or island slopes.

This variety gives the short trip its charm. A puffin in flight looks very different from one sitting low in the sea, and the guide’s explanations help turn quick sightings into something more meaningful. Guides such as Rebekah have been praised for clear, detailed narration, while Oscar, Joel, and Patricia have also been singled out for friendly and entertaining commentary.

The supplied binoculars are an important part of the experience. Puffins may be visible without them, but binoculars help you separate individual birds from dark rocks and see more of their behavior. Quality appears to vary, and one report said binoculars were not offered, despite their inclusion in the tour details. I would bring your own pair if you already have compact binoculars.

Your phone camera is another consideration. A standard mobile phone may capture a dot on the island rather than a recognizable bird. If getting a sharp photograph is your main goal, this cruise may leave you frustrated unless you have a camera with a useful zoom. The experience is better approached as birdwatching first and photography second.

The quiet pause with the engine off

After circling the island, the boat can silence its engine for a few minutes. This is one of the nicest details of the outing. You get a calmer view of the sea, time to listen for the guide’s final observations, and a chance to take photographs without the constant vibration of the motor.

The pause also gives you a better sense of the place. A puffin floating nearby, groups of birds moving between the water and the island, and the sound of seabirds can be more memorable than a rushed series of photographs. On a calm day, this part feels peaceful and unhurried.

Weather affects the quality of that pause and the bird sightings. One outing was canceled and rescheduled because of poor weather, while another had wet conditions and disappointing visibility. Calm weather can also bring a surprise: puffins need wind to help them take off, so a still day may leave more birds sitting on the water.

The tour requires good weather. If conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That policy protects you from paying for an outing that cannot run, but it does not solve the problem of having only one day in port. Keep that possibility in mind when planning your schedule.

Guides who make a short trip count

A one-hour wildlife cruise needs a guide who can fill the short journey with useful information without talking constantly. This is where the experience can vary.

Several guides have received warm praise for clear English, humor, and bird knowledge. Rebekah was described as an excellent narrator, and Joel was praised for pointing out unusual local birds as well as explaining puffins. Other guides have made the trip feel friendly and easy for families.

The guide explains puffin behavior, the birds around Akurey Island, and the local plant and animal life. You should hear about more than puffins, with Arctic terns and other seabirds part of the outing. This matters because there may be quiet stretches when the birds are not close to the boat.

Sound quality is a weak point. Some passengers at the rear of the boat could not hear the narration well, and another person found that the commentary became softer as the cruise continued. Try to sit near the guide or the working speakers if the boat allows it. If you cannot hear, ask politely rather than missing the main educational part of the trip.

The experience is not designed as a long naturalist lecture. One person found the information too brief, while others felt the guide was engaging and informative. If you want a detailed bird study, you may want more depth. If you prefer a light introduction during a port stop, the format works better.

Coffee, harbor views, and the return trip

Coffee is served on board during the cruise. Food and other drinks are not included, so eat before departure if you need more than a warm cup during the hour.

The return to Reykjavik is short, but the timing matters for a cruise passenger. Special Tours includes a worry-free shore excursion guarantee with round-trip transfers from Skarfabakki Harbour. If a rare delay causes your ship to leave, the company says it will arrange transport to the next port of call. If your ship is delayed and you cannot take the tour, you can receive a refund under the stated terms.

That promise is useful, but you still need to follow the pickup instructions carefully. Be ready at the port bus area and look for the Special Tours minibus. Pickup confusion has caused serious problems for some people, including missed connections and a no-show situation. The company has also held a boat briefly for a passenger delayed by a shuttle, but I would not rely on that as part of the plan.

Complimentary transfers apply only to passengers at Skarfabakki Harbour. If your ship uses Miðbakki, the alternative dock, the departure point is a short walk away. Check which dock your ship uses before you head ashore, and allow time to find the office or boat area.

Is $63.51 a fair price?

At $63.51 per person, this is not a bargain if you judge it only by the clock. The outing lasts about one hour, and the actual viewing time can feel short once you subtract boarding, the ride to Akurey, and the return to port.

The price makes more sense if you value convenience. You get an expert guide, loaner binoculars, coffee, harbor transfers from Skarfabakki, and a boat intended for close shoreline viewing. You also avoid giving up most of a port day to reach a distant bird colony.

The experience is strongest when puffins are plentiful and the weather is calm. It is weaker when birds are late-season stragglers, the sea is rough, or your view is blocked by other passengers. A four-point-two rating from 56 reviews reflects that mixed reality: many people found it delightful, while a smaller but important group felt the birds were too far away or the logistics failed them.

For a puffin enthusiast, $63.51 can be worthwhile because the trip is simple and focused. For someone hoping for guaranteed close-up photographs, the price may feel high. You are paying for the chance to observe wild birds in their setting, not for a controlled animal encounter.

Best time to go and what to bring

Several departure times are available, which is helpful when you are working around a ship schedule. An earlier departure may be a good choice. One outing had fewer people and birds active around breakfast time, although the tour does not promise a particular number of puffins at any hour.

Season matters even more than time of day. Late in the season, some birds have already left, and the final puffin watch of the season may produce only scattered groups. Spring and the main breeding period are likely to offer better odds based on the seasonal comments, but exact bird numbers are never guaranteed.

Bring:

• Compact binoculars, if you own them
• A camera with optical zoom, if photos matter
• Warm, waterproof clothing
• Extra time for finding the pickup minibus
• A little patience when birds are distant

The boat ride is short, and most people can participate. Still, Icelandic weather can change the feel of the outing quickly. Water-resistant clothing is more useful than dressing only for the forecast at the dock.

Who will enjoy this cruise most?

I would recommend this cruise to birders, families, and anyone with puffins high on an Iceland wish list. It is also a sensible choice when you want a nature experience that fits neatly into a Reykjavik cruise stop.

Children may appreciate the short length, the boat ride, and the sight of puffins flying with fish. The guide’s stories can keep the trip engaging, especially when the birds are active. The maximum group size of 33 is manageable, though a full boat can still make viewing and photography feel crowded.

You should think twice if you need guaranteed close views, dislike uncertain wildlife sightings, or have only one fixed opportunity in Iceland and would be very disappointed by a weather cancellation. A person with a strong interest in photography should also bring suitable equipment rather than depend on a phone.

The Special Tours app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. The tour itself is offered in English, while the app can provide extra support for people who prefer one of those other languages.

My verdict on the Reykjavik puffin cruise

Book this tour if your priority is a convenient chance to see puffins without leaving Reykjavik for a full-day excursion. The short boat ride, small vessel, loaner binoculars, and lively guides can combine into a memorable hour, especially when birds are flying close to the boat or gathering in large numbers around Akurey Island.

Go in with realistic expectations. Puffins may look tiny through a poor pair of binoculars, and the boat cannot always approach as closely as you would like. Sit where you can see the island, bring your own optics, listen for the guide, and choose an earlier departure when it fits your ship schedule.

I would call this a good, focused port-day activity rather than an automatic must-do for everyone. For a puffin lover, it can check off a major Iceland wish. For a casual sightseer seeking guaranteed close photographs, spend the $63.51 only if you are comfortable with the uncertainty that comes with real wildlife.

FAQ

How long is the puffin sightseeing cruise?

The experience lasts approximately one hour. The journey to Akurey Island takes about 15 minutes, followed by a circuit of the island, a short quiet pause with the engine off, and the return to Reykjavik.

Where does the tour depart?

The tour starts at Skarfabakki Harbour in Reykjavik. Passengers using the complimentary transfer should wait at the port bus area and look for a Special Tours minibus.

Can passengers at Miðbakki Harbour join the tour?

Yes. Complimentary transfers apply only to Skarfabakki Harbour, but Miðbakki is a very short walk from the departure point.

Are binoculars included?

Binoculars are supplied for use on board. Because some passengers have found the loaner binoculars less effective, bringing your own pair is a useful choice if you have them.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

This experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted for a refund.