Puffin Watching Speedboat Express

The best part of this Reykjavík outing is the speedboat itself. A 12-seat RIB gets you out to the puffin islands quickly, then the crew shuts off the engines so you can watch the birds in peace. You get a close look at puffins in the wild, not in a display or enclosure. I especially like the small group and the fact that warm waterproof overalls, gloves, goggles, and a life jacket are supplied. The short trip also leaves most of your day open.

There are two things to keep in mind. The ride can get rocky near the islands, and this is not a good choice if you want a slow, dry boat cruise. Children must be at least 140 centimeters tall to take part in the RIB trip, and the tour may be canceled in poor weather.

Key points to know before you book

• The boat carries only 12 people: You get a better chance to hear the guide and ask questions than on a large wildlife cruise.
• The engines are turned off near the birds: This gives you a quieter encounter and avoids filling the puffin-viewing time with motor noise.
• Warm gear is included: Waterproof overalls, gloves, goggles, and a life jacket are provided at the harbour.
• The noon departure works well: The 12:00 p.m. start leaves your morning and evening available for Reykjavík sights.
• The ride is short but lively: The advertised experience lasts about one hour, though you should allow a little extra time from start to finish.
• Guides add city and wildlife context: Celia, Rebecca, Joe, and Patrickgin have each been praised for humor, clear explanations, and close attention to safety.

A fast route from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour

You meet the boat at Reykjavík by Boat, Ægisgarður 5F, near the Old Harbour. The meeting point is close to public transportation, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to make your own way there.

The tour begins at noon. That timing is useful if you want to spend the morning at Hallgrímskirkja, walk along the waterfront, or have a relaxed breakfast before heading to the harbour. It also leaves the afternoon open for museums, shopping, or another city activity.

Once you are dressed in the provided gear and fitted with a life jacket, you board the RIB. The boat has room for 12 people, which is a good size for this kind of trip. You are not lost in a crowd, and the guide can speak to the group without needing a loudspeaker or a long line of seats.

The RIB is built for speed. That matters because the nearby islands are not the main part of the ride. You want to spend your time near the puffins, not slowly crossing the harbour. The quick journey helps the guide give you more time around the birds.

Why the 12-seat RIB makes a difference

A small boat changes the feel of a wildlife trip. You can ask questions as you go, and you should have a clearer view of the water and islands than you would from a large vessel with many rows of passengers.

The guides bring more than bird facts. The experience includes information about puffins, other wildlife, and Reykjavík itself. Celia has been praised for her bird, wildlife, and city knowledge. Rebecca has been described as friendly, helpful, and well informed, while Joe brought humor to the trip. Patrickgin was also singled out for being funny and full of puffin information.

Those names do not guarantee who will lead your departure, but they give you a good sense of the guide style to expect: personal, conversational, and alert to questions. The small capacity helps make that possible.

The boat’s speed is also part of the fun. This is not simply a ride out to a viewing point. The RIB gives you a brisk trip across the water, followed by a calmer period near the islands. That change of pace is one reason the excursion feels like more than a standard sightseeing cruise.

The trip to Videy Island and the puffin habitat

Videy Island is the main natural focus of the route. It lies just outside Reykjavík and gives the boat access to the puffins in their own setting.

As you approach the islands, the crew turns off the engines. This is an important detail, not a small courtesy. Without the motor running, you can concentrate on the birds and hear the guide more easily. It also creates a calmer moment after the faster part of the ride.

You should not expect every bird to pose perfectly beside the boat. Wildlife is unpredictable, and the point is to see puffins in nature rather than at a fixed exhibit. The boat is designed to get close, but the guide still needs to balance viewing with safe boating and respect for the birds.

The stop near the puffin islands can feel rocky. One account specifically notes that the water was unsettled near the island, even though the experience remained enjoyable. If you are prone to motion sickness or dislike an active boat ride, this is the main issue to consider.

The supplied goggles and waterproof clothing are practical here. Spray and wind can make a short ride feel cold, even when the weather looks pleasant from land. The overalls help keep your clothes dry, while gloves and goggles make the fast crossing more comfortable.

Harpa, Sun Voyager, and Reykjavík from the water

The route also includes views connected with several well-known Reykjavík sights. Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre is listed as one of the route points. From the water, you get a different angle on the building and the harbour edge than you would from the street.

Reykjavík itself is another route point, so the boat ride is not only about puffins. Your guide provides information about the city while you move between the harbour and the islands. This is useful if you are new to Reykjavík and want to connect the natural setting with the urban one.

The Sun Voyager sculpture appears on the route as well. It is one of the city’s most recognizable waterfront landmarks, and seeing it from a boat gives you a wider sense of where the shoreline sits in relation to the centre.

The Old Harbour is both the starting point and the end point. That makes the trip easy to fit into a day of sightseeing. You do not need to arrange a separate transfer back to town, and you finish where you began.

These sightseeing points are best understood as passing views rather than long stops for exploring on foot. The tour’s real purpose is the puffin encounter. If you want detailed time at Harpa or the Sun Voyager, visit them separately before or after the boat ride.

What the included clothing means in practice

I like that the operator supplies the main protective gear. You receive a warm waterproof overall, gloves, goggles, and a life jacket. That removes the need to pack specialist boating clothes for a one-hour activity.

You should still dress sensibly underneath. The supplied equipment is intended to keep you warm and dry, but the boat is fast and the water can be chilly. The provided gear is especially valuable for visitors who have planned a city break and do not want to buy outdoor clothing just for this outing.

The life jacket is included for every participant. Safety is part of the guide’s job throughout the trip, and one account specifically praised the attention paid to it without making the experience feel stiff or joyless.

The boat ride is active enough that you should expect movement. The warm overalls will not turn the RIB into a smooth sightseeing vessel. Think of them as protection for an energetic ride, not as a substitute for deciding if you are comfortable on open water.

One hour on the water, with a little planning around it

The listed duration is about one hour. That makes this one of the easier wildlife activities to fit into a Reykjavík schedule. You can pair it with a morning city walk, lunch afterward, or an afternoon museum visit.

Allow some flexibility around the stated hour. One account describes the full experience from start to finish as about an hour and a half, so it is wise not to book another activity immediately after the advertised return time. The boat portion is listed as one hour, but boarding, clothing, and getting settled can add time.

The 12:00 p.m. start is fixed in the supplied details. If you are arriving by cruise ship, catching a bus, or planning a restaurant reservation, check your timing carefully. The meeting point is near public transportation, but no hotel transfer is included.

The tour ends back at Ægisgarður. That simple return point is helpful because you can continue on foot around the Old Harbour or head back toward central Reykjavík without solving a new transport problem.

Is $76 a fair price for the experience?

At $76 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend an hour in Reykjavík. The value comes from combining several things in a compact trip: a fast RIB ride, a small group, supplied protective clothing, a guide, and access to the puffin islands.

A larger boat may offer a lower price per person, but it will not necessarily give you the same small-group feel or the same speed toward the islands. Here, you are paying for time and access as much as for transportation. The boat gets out quickly, and the guide can keep the group together without the scale of a large cruise.

The price makes the most sense if seeing puffins is a priority and you have limited time in Reykjavík. You do not spend half a day on the water, and you do not need to arrange clothing or transport to a distant departure point.

The value is weaker if you mainly want a gentle harbour cruise or a long city tour from the water. The ride is short, and the city sights are supporting scenery rather than the main event. You are paying for a direct wildlife outing with a lively boat ride.

Who will enjoy this boat most

This outing suits you if you want a short wildlife experience with some speed. It works well for a first visit to Reykjavík, especially when your schedule is full and you cannot spare several hours for a larger excursion.

It is also a good fit for anyone who prefers a personal guide. The 12-person limit gives you a better chance to ask about puffins, the islands, or Reykjavík without waiting for a large group to move on.

Families can consider it, but the height rule matters. A child must be at least 140 centimeters tall to participate in the RIB tour. The requirement applies even if the child is comfortable on boats, so check this before booking.

You may want to choose another activity if you strongly dislike rough water, need a completely calm cruise, or want guaranteed close-up wildlife viewing. The guides can take you near the islands, but no wild animal encounter can promise a particular number of birds or a perfect viewing position.

The tour is offered in English. Most people can participate, but the supplied information does not give further details about specific mobility needs, so contact the provider if you have questions beyond the stated height requirement.

Weather, cancellations, and choosing your day

This experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. That weather clause is sensible for a fast open-water boat, but it means you should avoid placing the tour on the final possible hour of your Reykjavík stay if seeing puffins is important.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off uses local time.

I would book early if your schedule is fixed. The trip is limited to 12 people, and it is booked an average of 22 days ahead. You still need to watch the forecast, but early booking gives you a better chance of getting the noon departure that fits your plans.

Should you book the Puffin Watching Speedboat Express?

Book it if you want a compact, lively puffin trip and like the idea of reaching the islands quickly in a small boat. The included warm gear, attentive English guidance, and return to the Old Harbour make it easy to add to a Reykjavík day.

I would choose it over a larger cruise if personal contact and speed matter to you. I would skip it if you want a quiet, smooth ride or if anyone in your group is below the 140-centimeter height requirement.

For most visitors with one free hour around midday, the $76 price is reasonable because you get a focused wildlife outing rather than a long transfer-heavy tour. Just allow extra time around the one-hour boat ride, dress for movement, and remember that the best part of this experience is seeing puffins on their own island, where nature keeps the schedule.

FAQ

Where does the Puffin Watching Speedboat Express start?

It starts at Reykjavík by Boat, Ægisgarður 5F, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland, in the Old Harbour area.

What time does the tour depart?

The scheduled start time is 12:00 p.m.

How long does the experience last?

The boat experience is listed as approximately one hour. You should allow a little extra time around the trip for boarding and getting dressed.

How many people can join the boat?

The RIB has a maximum capacity of 12 travelers.

What clothing and safety equipment are included?

The tour provides a warm waterproof overall, gloves, goggles, and a life jacket.

Can children join the RIB tour?

Yes, but a child must be at least 140 centimeters tall to participate in the RIB tour.