Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Tour by RIB Speedboat

Reykjavik’s puffin tour packs a lot into one brisk hour: a fast RIB ride across the bay, close views of small nesting islands, and time with thousands of Atlantic puffins in their natural setting. The boat can approach the rocky shores of Lundey and Akurey, then shuts off its engine so you can watch the birds in peace.

I like the small group of 12, which gives you a better chance at a clear view and makes the guide’s explanations easier to hear. I also like the short format. You can fit this trip between a museum visit, a whale-watching outing, or an evening meal without losing half a day.

The main catch is simple: puffins are small, quick, and not always easy to photograph. You should also expect a rough, exposed ride and bring waterproof footwear, since shoes are not included.

Key points before you book

• Lundey and Akurey are only about 15 minutes from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor, so most of the hour is spent enjoying the bay and the birds rather than getting to them.
• The RIB boat can approach the rocky island shores closely because its shallow draft suits the shallow coastal water.
• The captain turns off the engine near the islands, giving you a quieter chance to watch puffins, fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, and black guillemots.
• The group is limited to 12 people, a useful advantage on a wildlife trip where everyone wants a clear view.
• A full-body waterproof suit, goggles, and life vest are included, but waterproof shoes are not.
• The trip can be canceled or changed for weather and sea conditions, with the captain making the final call for safety and comfort.

From the Old Harbor to Reykjavik Bay

Your tour begins at Reykjavik’s Old Harbor, in a row of small wooden huts. Look for the one marked REYKJAVIK BY BOAT, and arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. That extra time is not wasted. You need to check in, receive your safety gear, and get ready for an open-boat ride.

Special Tours has been running puffin trips for more than 20 years and has offered these excursions for over a decade. That experience matters most in the practical details: choosing the right boat, reading the weather, and deciding how close to approach the islands.

The RIB, or rigid inflatable boat, is built for speed and maneuverability. It is not a quiet sightseeing launch with a broad indoor cabin. You sit close to the water, feel the boat move, and get a more direct sense of the bay. For many people, that ride is half the fun. For anyone with back problems, pregnancy, or a strong dislike of bouncing boats, it is a reason to choose a gentler activity instead.

The tour is limited to 12 participants. That is a good size for this setting. You will not have a huge crowd pressing toward one rail, and the guide can speak to the group without needing to compete with dozens of passengers.

The 15-minute ride to Lundey and Akurey

The two islands, Lundey and Akurey, sit in Reykjavik Bay roughly 15 minutes from the harbor. They are small, hilly islands with rocky shores and slopes covered in birdlife. The short crossing means you do not need a full day or a long sea journey to reach a genuine wildlife setting.

The RIB’s shallow draft allows it to come close to shore. That does not mean the puffins will sit beside your seat. It means the boat can position itself well for watching without needing to stay far out in deeper water.

The ride gives you open views back toward Reykjavik and out toward the surrounding mountains. Depending on the time of day and weather, the bay may also provide attractive city views and evening light. The supplied description mentions city lights, so a later departure can add a different mood, though exact starting times depend on availability.

The boat ride is fast and exposed. You will receive a full-body waterproof suit, goggles, and a life vest, but you still need suitable clothing underneath. Waterproof shoes are not included, so bring footwear that can handle spray and wet boarding areas. Good socks matter too. Cold feet can spoil an otherwise fine hour.

Watching puffins with the engine off

When the boat reaches the islands, the captain turns off the engine. This is an important part of the trip. The quiet makes it easier to hear the guide and watch the birds without constant motor noise. It also gives the boat a calmer position for looking at the shore.

Puffins are the main attraction, and the islands are home to thousands of them. You may see birds perched on the slopes, moving around the rocky edges, or flying low over the water. The guide explains puffin behavior and points out details that are easy to miss when you first look at a crowded island.

Keep your expectations realistic about photographs. One enthusiastic passenger specifically noted that puffins are hard to photograph or record because they are small and fast. A phone may capture a memorable glimpse, but do not judge the trip by whether you return with a perfect close-up.

I suggest watching with your own eyes first. If you have binoculars, bring them only if they are practical in a moving boat. You may find that the guide’s descriptions help you notice more than a hurried attempt to keep a bird in the camera frame.

The English-speaking guide provides live commentary. Special Tours also offers an app for Android and Apple devices, with text and audio information in English, German, French, Spanish, and simplified Chinese. The live tour itself is listed as English, so the app may help if you prefer extra information in another language.

More than puffins: the birdlife around the islands

Puffins get the attention, but they are not the only birds you may see. The islands are also associated with northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, and black guillemots.

That variety gives the hour some depth. You can compare the puffin’s compact shape with the longer wings of a fulmar, watch gulls working the shoreline, or look for Arctic terns over the water. The guide’s role is valuable here. A fast glimpse of a bird means more when you know what to look for and why it is present around these islands.

One particularly enjoyable detail from the tour experience is that guides can explain bird calls and behavior in a lively way. One guide even demonstrated the sound puffins make. That kind of explanation is useful because the birds may be too distant for every detail to be obvious.

You should not expect a formal lecture. The appeal is a mix of short natural-history lessons, direct observation, and the movement of the boat. If you want a long, technical birding session, this one-hour format may feel brief. If you want a friendly introduction to Icelandic seabirds, it works well.

What the waterproof gear does and does not solve

The included full-body waterproof suit is a major help. It protects you from spray and wind, and it means you do not need to pack a complete marine outfit just for this activity. Goggles protect your eyes during the faster parts of the ride, while the life vest is standard safety equipment.

Still, the suit is not a substitute for sensible clothing. Wear warm layers beneath it, and choose footwear that is waterproof or at least comfortable if it gets wet. The operator does not include waterproof shoes.

Your clothing choice also affects your enjoyment of the wildlife stop. If you are cold, you will spend the quiet viewing period thinking about your hands and feet instead of the birds. The harbor location makes it easy to arrive from central Reykjavik, but pickup and drop-off are not included unless purchased as an add-on.

The captain decides whether the trip sails based on weather, sea conditions, passenger safety, and comfort. That means the schedule is not completely within your control. It is a sensible policy for a small, fast boat in open water, but leave some flexibility in your itinerary if this is an important part of your day.

Is $84 fair for one hour?

At $84 per person, this is not a cheap way to spend an hour. You are paying for a specialized boat, safety equipment, a licensed guide, and access to islands that you cannot simply walk to from Reykjavik.

The value improves if you want both wildlife and a thrill ride. A standard sightseeing boat may offer more room and a calmer crossing, but the RIB provides a faster, more direct outing and can approach the islands closely. The one-hour length also helps if your Iceland schedule is crowded.

The small group adds real value. With only 12 people, you have a better chance of seeing past other passengers, hearing the guide, and moving your attention from one side of the boat when birds appear. On a wildlife tour, that matters more than a long list of extras.

The price is less appealing if you are mainly seeking professional wildlife photography. Puffins are quick, the boat is moving, and the visit is short. You are paying for the complete experience, not guaranteed frame-filling images.

Special Tours has more than two decades of experience in Icelandic boat trips and is an established puffin-watching operator. That does not remove the uncertainty of weather or wildlife, but it gives the activity a solid practical foundation.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it to you if you want a compact introduction to Icelandic seabirds and like the idea of a fast boat ride. It suits people with a half-day or full-day Reykjavik plan who do not want to commit to a longer sea excursion.

Families may also find the short length helpful, though the height restriction matters. The trip is not suitable for anyone under 140 centimeters, pregnant women, or people with back problems. Children who meet the height requirement still need to be comfortable with wind, spray, safety gear, and boat movement.

This tour also works well for repeat visitors to Reykjavik. You can see the city from the water, learn about the islands, and add a wildlife experience without traveling far from the center.

I would think twice if you dislike speed, have limited mobility that makes boarding difficult, or want guaranteed close photographs. The tour depends on weather, and wildlife never follows a script. The thousands of puffins make the setting promising, but no guide can guarantee exactly where each bird will be when the boat arrives.

Booking details that matter

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Check available start times carefully, especially if you are pairing the tour with another booking.

Pickup and drop-off are not included by default. You need to reach the wooden hut at the Old Harbor yourself unless you buy transportation as an add-on. Arriving 30 minutes early gives you time to find the correct hut and get suited up without rushing.

The tour lasts one hour, but plan more time around it for getting to the harbor, changing into gear, and returning to town afterward. Food and drinks are not included, so carry anything you need before or after the boat ride.

The overall rating is 4.5 from 10 reviews, with especially strong praise for the guides’ bird knowledge and the crew’s handling of the experience. One five-star account involved a ten-year-old grandson on a different whale-watching trip with the operator, so do not treat its whale sightings as part of this puffin excursion. The useful point is that the crew received warm praise, while the puffin-specific feedback emphasizes clear explanations and the difficulty of photographing the birds.

Should you book the Reykjavik RIB puffin tour?

Book it if you want a short, active wildlife trip with a small group and a real chance to see puffins close to their island habitat. The combination of a 15-minute crossing, quiet viewing near Lundey and Akurey, and a fast return makes good use of a busy Reykjavik day.

Skip it if you need a calm, sheltered boat, have back problems, or care more about photography than the live experience. At $84, the tour earns its price through the small group, specialized RIB, included protective gear, and efficient one-hour format. Just bring proper shoes, accept that nature controls the schedule, and watch the puffins before reaching for your camera.

FAQ

Where does the puffin tour depart from?

It departs from Reykjavik’s Old Harbor. Find the small wooden hut in the row marked REYKJAVIK BY BOAT.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive no later than 30 minutes before departure so you have time to check in and prepare for the boat ride.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts one hour. The islands of Lundey and Akurey are about 15 minutes from the Old Harbor.

What birds might I see?

You may see puffins, northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, and black guillemots.

What equipment is included?

The tour includes a full-body waterproof suit, goggles, a life vest, and a guided tour. Waterproof shoes are not included.

Is the tour offered in languages other than English?

The live guide speaks English. A Special Tours app offers text and audio information in English, German, French, Spanish, and simplified Chinese.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.