Iceland · PUFFIN TOURS
Iceland hosts the largest Atlantic puffin colonies on earth, and from roughly May to August they are a short boat ride from the old harbour. These 15 express cruises and combo trips are priced and timed, with the season and how close each gets you.
See Atlantic puffins up close on a 1-hour boat ride from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour to Lundey and Akurey, with binoculars and a 100% sighting guarantee.
“Great short tour with lots of new information and many many chances to see the Puffins.”
Puffin and volcano tour on Heimaey with Ebbi. See puffin colonies, Sprangan, Viking Town, Elephant Rock, and Eldfell crater.
“Absolutely amazing tour! Beyond what we expected! Ebbi was very knowledgeable on ALL things related to the Island and I feel so lucky to have gotten such a great tour and so many local facts from him!”
Short guided puffin cruise from Reykjavik to Akurey Island, with binoculars and close-in nesting seabird views on an efficient ride.
“Great guide. She has a PhD with research on oceanic studies. Cery in depth discussion not just on puffins. My kids love the tour.”
Reykjavík combo cruise: puffins on Old Skúli and whale watching in Faxaflói Bay, warm overalls, binoculars, and a puffin sightings guarantee.
“Essentially two separate tours as you come back to the harbour for a quick half hour change over. We did the Puffin tour first and it was fantastic, the guide had really good knowledge of the birds, the boat got nice and close to the colony and they were in good form flying around us and making a lot of noise. We then did the whale tour and whilst the whales were sadly being shy, we still got a few glimpses. The tour provider gave us a free return because the whales were not showing themselves as much as normal. Top set of tours, highly recommend.Read more”
A short Reykjavik harbor cruise to puffin breeding islands with free binoculars, warm gear, and a naturalist guide.
“nice views, lots of birds, unfortunately little sun and gloomy and it's July”
Hour-long puffin watching by RIB from Reykjavik, close to nesting birds in Faxaflói Bay with warm coveralls and onboard spotting help.
“Great trip on the RIB. Saw lots of puffins and even a seal popped it’s head up. Well organised, overalls were good protection from the wind on the way to and from the island, and had lots of pockets for glasses etc, binoculars provided. Guide gave a good overview and captain driving was excellent. Would thoroughly recommend this trip.”
See puffins from small boats near Reykjavik, with binoculars and expert English guidance. 1 to 1.5 hours, weather dependent.
“We saw so many Puffins… Very well organized. Beautiful boat that allowed us to get very close to the two nesting islands just outside the Reykjavik harbor. The had binoculars for everyone that wanted them and a guide on the boat that pointed out and provided information about the puffins and other birds around the islands. Highly recommend..”
RIB boat puffin tour from Reykjavík with a small group, warm gear and binoculars, plus a quiet approach to Akurey islands for wildlife sightings.
“If you have back issues maybe think twice as you crash down on rough waves. However, the tour was Perfect! We saw sooo many puffins up close and if you like speed boats this is for you. They ensure your comfort with special clothing and our guide Rachael was knowledgeable, super friendly and right there for any issues. Loved this adventure!”
Westman Islands day trip from Reykjavik with puffins, Elephant Rock, Skansinn, and a climb up Eldfell Volcano. Long, scenic, worth it.
“This was a great tour with a very kind and informative guide. It was pretty easygoing, and getting to see the puffins and the church in Skansinn was my favorite parts. The volcano portion wasn’t as exciting as I thought, but it was still really fascinating to see. I recommend for a fun and educational adventure to the Westman Islands!”
Combo cruise from Reykjavik for puffins at Akurey and whale watching in Faxafloi Bay, with warm gear, binoculars, and a real wildlife shot.
“The information provided about the whales, dolphins and puffins was very informative. We were very lucky that the seas were very calm and we saw two types of whales along with dolphins. It was a worthwhile trip”
Close-up puffins from Reykjavik on a small-group RIB tour with warm gear, expert guidance, and a quick one-hour wildlife fix.
“Puffin fun facts. Large amount of puffins that we got to see. Guide was kind and knowledgeable. Boat felt safe and stable, were given eye gear and proper outer layer. Brought binoculars to better see puffins”
Reykjavik two-in-one boat day for puffins and whales, with heated viewing, protective gear, onboard commentary, and a whale re-try guarantee.
“The tour guides were very knowledgeable and kept us informed on location and puffin/whale information.”
Puffin spotting from Akurey Island on a short Reykjavik cruise, with loaner binoculars, expert guide commentary, and coffee onboard.
“So glad we booked the minivan trip from the port to Special Tours offices as the walk would have been too much. Despite it being the end of the season we did get to see some Puffins. Our guide onboard the boat as well as the minivan driver were very informative”
1-hour boat to puffin islands outside Reykjavik with a live guide, binoculars, and bay and city views for about $66.
“it was amazing, the water was calm and it was a beautiful day. we saw lots of puffins actively fishing and flying back to their nests. A real treat and so glad we did this! the guide was knowledgeable and the trip was just right in length.”
Visit the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Vik, meet puffins at the puffin hospital, and see belugas plus native species in the aquarium.
“Visiting the sanctuary was a highlight of our trip to Iceland! Not only did we get to delight in watching the puffins zip around their tank and being fed, the belugas had been brought into their observation tank for the winter. From what we understood, they spend the summer in the protected bay and are brought in for greater protection over the colder periods. We learnt a lot and were happy to be supporting such a great initiative. All animals seemed to be extremely well cared for.”
Every kind of day out, and the best of each.
