Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Tour

The best part of this one-hour RIB trip is the chance to see puffins from a small boat that can approach the rocky islands more closely than a large sightseeing vessel. You may watch hundreds of birds sitting on the water, flying around the cliffs, or carrying small fish back to their burrows.

I like two things right away: the tour fits easily into a busy Reykjavik day, and the crew supplies warm coveralls, safety equipment, and binoculars. The guide adds useful details about puffin habits rather than simply pointing toward the birds. The main consideration is the ride itself. The RIB can strike the tops of the waves hard, so this is not the best choice if you have back problems or dislike a bumpy, high-speed boat ride.

Key points

• Close access to puffin colonies: The RIB can reach the islands and sea cliffs more closely than a conventional boat.
• A fast, compact outing: The full experience lasts about one hour, making it easy to add before or after other Reykjavik plans.
• Strong summer bird activity: Puffins are seen from May through August, along with gannets, auks, fulmars, and Arctic terns.
• Warm gear is supplied: Coveralls and safety equipment help protect you from cold wind, spray, and rain.
• Guides add real value: Guides such as Anna, Maria, Mikel, Megan, and Rachel have been praised for clear explanations and friendly care.
• The ride can be rough: Keep phones in the coverall pockets and follow the crew’s advice on sitting and holding the grab rails.

A puffin trip that gets straight to the point

Puffins are the stars here, and the tour wastes little time getting you toward them. You meet at the Whale Safari office in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, receive a short safety briefing, put on your coveralls, and climb into the RIB with your captain and guide.

The boat then speeds across Faxaflói Bay toward the islands where puffins gather during the nesting season. The trip is short enough to suit a morning in Reykjavik, but it still gives you the thrill of open water and a close look at seabird life.

I like this format for visitors who want a wildlife outing without giving up half a day. At $101 per person, it is not cheap, even by Icelandic standards. Still, the price includes the boat, captain, wildlife guide, coveralls, safety gear, and binoculars, and the experience often delivers large numbers of birds in a short period.

Meeting at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

You make your own way to the Whale Safari office in the Old Harbour. This is a practical meeting point if you are staying in central Reykjavik, since the harbor is easy to reach on foot from much of the city center.

Do not arrive with a large suitcase or bulky bag. Luggage and large bags are not allowed on the boat, and the RIB has limited room. Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe or sports shoes, then add warm layers underneath the supplied coveralls.

The staff help you with the protective clothing and safety equipment before boarding. The coveralls are useful, not decorative. The bay can feel cold even on a pleasant Icelandic day, and the outer layer also helps protect you from wind and spray.

A quick safety briefing covers the basics before departure. You will hold a grab rail as the boat moves away from the harbor, so keep your hands free and put phones, glasses, and other loose items into secure pockets.

The RIB ride across Faxaflói Bay

The boat ride is part of the attraction, but it is also the part you should consider most carefully. A RIB is smaller and more nimble than a standard sightseeing vessel, allowing the captain to cover water quickly and approach rocky shorelines. That same design means you feel the waves more directly.

Several people have described the ride as exciting and fun. Others found the repeated impact on the water uncomfortable, especially older passengers or anyone with back trouble. If you sit correctly, hold the handles, and follow the crew’s instructions, you can make the ride easier on your body.

One useful tip is to keep your phone in one of the Velcro pockets on the coveralls while the boat is moving. You will have time to take it out once the boat slows near the birds. A passenger also found it more comfortable to keep both feet planted, hold the handles, and slightly lift off the seat when crossing choppy water.

The boat is open to the elements, so dress for conditions rather than the calendar. Rain, wind, and cold are possible even in the puffin season. The supplied coveralls help, but warm clothing underneath remains important.

Reaching the puffin islands

The RIB heads toward small islands and rocky cliffs where puffins nest from May through August. Lundey Island is named as one of the main viewing areas, and the boat may also visit another nearby island depending on conditions and the captain’s route.

You do not land on the islands. Instead, the captain steers around their edges, rocky inlets, and sea cliffs. This keeps the birds undisturbed while giving you a chance to watch them from the water.

The small boat is valuable here. A large vessel must keep farther away from the rocks, while the RIB can position itself closer to the nesting areas. That does not mean you will always be only a few feet from the birds. Puffins are wild animals, and they may move away or remain farther inland.

Good conditions can bring impressive numbers. People have seen hundreds, and sometimes what seemed like thousands, of puffins gathered around the islands. You may see them sitting on the water in groups, flying low over the waves, resting on ledges, or carrying fish toward their burrows.

A realistic expectation matters. You may get excellent views, but a phone camera will not always produce a sharp close-up. The boat moves, the birds are small, and the water rises and falls beneath you. Binoculars are supplied, which helps you watch behavior even when the boat cannot approach as closely as you hoped.

Watching puffins in their nesting season

The guide explains what you are seeing as the boat moves around the colony. You learn about puffin behavior, diet, flight, nesting areas, and the way the birds use the cliffs and burrows.

Puffins are especially entertaining because the viewing is not limited to birds sitting still. You may watch them land awkwardly, paddle on the water, fly past the boat, or return with fish. They can also be quick to move when another bird challenges them, so keep your camera ready but do not spend the entire tour staring at a screen.

The guides have been one of the strongest parts of this experience. Names mentioned by passengers include Anna, Maria, Mikel, Megan, Rachel, Mel, and Miguel, though the guide assigned to your departure may be different. The consistent pattern is clear: the guide explains the birds, answers questions, helps passengers feel safe, and keeps the short trip lively.

The crew also takes the environmental setting seriously. The boat stays near the birds without landing on the islands or disturbing the nesting sites. That balance matters. You get a close look at puffins in their own setting, rather than seeing them in a controlled attraction.

Other seabirds around the bay

Puffins receive the most attention, but they are not the only birds in the area. Keep watching the water and cliffs for gannets, auks, fulmars, and Arctic terns.

This gives the trip more depth than a single-species photo stop. The guide can point out differences in shape, flight, and behavior as the boat moves between the islands. You may also see seals, harbor porpoises, or even whales, although those sightings are not the main purpose of the tour and cannot be promised.

One passenger saw humpback whales several times during a puffin trip. Another spotted a seal resting on a rock and a harbor porpoise. Treat those as welcome extras, not part of the guaranteed program.

The wider bay also makes the outing worthwhile when a particular puffin sits too far from the boat. You are watching a working marine environment, not simply waiting for one perfect photograph.

Photos, binoculars, and the best way to watch

Bring your camera, but set your expectations sensibly. The boat may get close enough for strong images with a phone or a moderate telephoto lens, yet the movement of the RIB and the birds can make photography tricky.

Your best strategy is to watch first and photograph second. Use the supplied binoculars to find birds on the cliffs and water, then take a few quick shots when the boat settles into position.

Some departures have included a crew member taking photographs with a zoom lens and sending them to passengers afterward at no extra charge. This has been a helpful bonus, especially for people whose phone images were blurred by the motion of the boat. It is not wise to assume every departure will include this service, since one departure did not have a camera-carrying guide or captain.

Ask the staff to confirm your email address before leaving if they take photographs. That small step gives you a better chance of receiving the images.

How the one-hour schedule works

The advertised duration is one hour, including the ride out, time around the islands, and the return to Reykjavik Harbour. That makes this a compact activity rather than a long wildlife expedition.

The short schedule is a major advantage if you are fitting several activities into one day. You can enjoy the bay in the morning and still have most of the day for museums, food, walking around Reykjavik, or another excursion.

The tradeoff is that the boat cannot wait indefinitely for a perfect puffin moment. Weather, sea conditions, and bird behavior affect how long the captain can spend near each island. A longer tour might give more time for photography, but this one is designed to deliver a concentrated wildlife experience.

The tour is available in English and offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Iceland schedule is still changing.

Who should book this RIB tour

This is a good choice for you if you want to see puffins without committing to a full-day trip. It suits couples, families with children aged 10 or older, solo visitors, and anyone who enjoys a little speed with their wildlife viewing.

The supplied coveralls make it easier to manage Icelandic weather, and the boat’s compact size gives everyone a useful view. You do not need to sit in a special place to see the birds, since the captain moves around the colony and the boat is open.

It is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, or anyone shorter than 145 centimeters. The boarding process and bumpy ride require a reasonable level of mobility and comfort on a small boat.

I would also think twice if your top priority is a perfect close-up photograph. The boat can approach the islands well, but the birds remain wild, the sea may be rough, and puffins can fly away. For a more relaxed ride, a larger vessel may be easier, though you may give up some closeness and speed.

Is $101 a fair price?

At $101, this is a pricey one-hour activity. Iceland’s tours are rarely bargains, and the short duration may initially make the cost seem high.

The value improves if you care about seeing puffins in their natural setting and want a compact trip from central Reykjavik. You are paying for a specialized RIB, a captain who can maneuver near the islands, a wildlife guide, safety equipment, warm coveralls, and binoculars. The excellent 4.8 rating from 277 ratings and the 88 percent perfect transport score also point to a well-run operation.

For me, the strongest value comes from the combination of access and convenience. If you have already traveled around Iceland without seeing puffins, this trip gives you a focused chance to find them. Several passengers who had struggled to see puffins elsewhere found the Reykjavik outing especially rewarding.

Still, the price is harder to justify if you are only mildly interested in birds or if you dislike fast boats. In that case, spend the money on another Reykjavik activity and admire puffins from a less demanding setting.

Final booking advice

Book this tour if puffins are high on your Iceland wish list and you like the idea of a short, energetic boat ride. Choose a date between May and August, with the middle of the nesting season offering a strong chance of seeing large groups.

Bring warm layers, wear closed-toe shoes, secure your phone, and listen carefully during the safety briefing. Expect close views rather than guaranteed face-to-face encounters, and expect a lively ride rather than a gentle cruise.

I would recommend it for most active visitors who want a practical puffin outing from Reykjavik. I would skip it if you have back trouble, limited mobility, or a strong dislike of rough water. For everyone else, the chance to watch puffins flying, swimming, nesting, and carrying fish makes this a memorable use of one hour in Iceland.

FAQ

Where does the puffin tour meet?

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

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts one hour, including the RIB ride across Faxaflói Bay, puffin viewing near the islands, and the return to Reykjavik Harbour.

What birds might I see besides puffins?

The bay and islands are visited by gannets, auks, fulmars, and Arctic terns. Seals, harbor porpoises, and whales have also been seen, but these sightings are not guaranteed.

Is warm equipment provided?

Yes. The tour provides coveralls and all necessary safety equipment. You should still bring warm clothing, comfortable clothes, and closed-toe or sports shoes.

Can children join the tour?

Children under 10 cannot join this activity. The tour is also not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, or people under 145 centimeters tall.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now-and-pay-later option.