Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Puffin Sightseeing Cruise

The main event here is simple and appealing: you leave Reykjavik by boat, circle Akurey Island, and watch puffins fly, float, and gather around the rocky shore. On a good day, you may see birds carrying fish back to their burrows, with Arctic terns and other seabirds adding to the show.

I like the short one-hour format, which fits neatly into a cruise day, and I like that binoculars are provided. Guides such as Rebekah, Oscar, Joel, and Patricia have been praised for lively bird commentary and clear explanations. The main drawback is distance: the boat cannot always get close to the island, so your experience depends on weather, bird numbers, your seat, and the quality of your camera or binoculars.

Key points to know before you book

• Akurey Island is the target: The boat circles this small island outcrop rather than touring Reykjavik’s full coastline.
• The ride is short: The advertised hour includes the harbor departure, trip to the island, viewing time, and return.
• Birds can look small: Binoculars help, but some guests still find the puffins too far away for good phone photos.
• The small boat helps with access: Its shallow draft allows it to approach tricky parts of the shoreline, within environmental limits.
• Skarfabakki pickup is included: Miðbakki passengers can walk to the departure point, while Skarfabakki passengers can use the transfer minibus.
• Timing matters: Puffin numbers change with the season, and earlier departures may offer calmer conditions and better viewing.

Leaving Reykjavik for Akurey Island

The trip begins at Skarfabakki Harbour, the main cruise port listed for this excursion. If you are arriving there, look for the Special Tours minibus in the bus area. The round-trip port transfer is included for Skarfabakki passengers, which is useful because the harbor area is not the sort of place you want to navigate in a hurry before a ship departure.

If your ship docks at Miðbakki, the arrangement is different. The dock is only a short walk from the departure point, but the complimentary minibus transfer applies only to Skarfabakki. Check your dock before booking, and allow time to find the office and boarding area.

Once aboard, the boat takes about 15 minutes to reach Akurey Island. That ride is part of the tour, not wasted time. Your guide uses it to explain local flora and fauna, describe what to look for, and set realistic expectations about puffin viewing.

The boat carries a maximum of 33 people. That is smaller than many large harbor cruises, but it is not a private wildlife outing. Seating and sightlines matter. One useful tip is to move around when possible, especially if other passengers are blocking your view. Several accounts point to the starboard, or right, side as a good place to sit during the approach, although the boat’s position changes as it circles the island.

Watching puffins around Akurey

Akurey is a small rocky island and seabird habitat rather than a place you go ashore. The boat circles the outcrop so you can watch puffins on the island, in the water, and in flight.

Puffins are entertaining birds, but they are not always easy to photograph. They may sit low on the water, blend into the dark rock, or appear as quick flashes as they fly past. The boat must keep a respectful distance from the island, both for the birds and the nesting site. That environmental limit is important: this is wildlife viewing, not a guaranteed close-up encounter.

On favorable outings, the number of birds can be impressive. You might see puffins flying in several directions, bobbing beside the boat, or carrying fish toward their young. Some outings have produced views of large groups around the island. On other departures, the birds have been fewer, especially near the end of the season.

The difference between those two experiences is not hard to understand. Puffin activity changes with the time of year and the weather. One late-season departure still produced good views, while another had only a modest number of birds. If puffins are a major reason for your Iceland visit, book during the strongest part of the local puffin season when possible, rather than treating the final departures as a sure thing.

Why binoculars matter more than your phone

Loaner binoculars are included, and you should use them. They turn distant black-and-white shapes into recognizable birds and make it easier to see puffins standing near burrows or gathering on the water.

The supplied binoculars have received mixed comments. Some people found them useful, while others preferred their own pair. If you already own compact binoculars, bring them. They are especially helpful if you want to study the birds rather than simply confirm that the tiny shapes on the island are puffins.

Phone photography is the weak point for many people. A standard mobile phone may capture the island and the general scene, but it may not produce a satisfying close image of an individual bird. A zoom lens or camera with a longer lens will give you a better chance. Even then, birds move quickly and the boat is on the water, so think of this as a birdwatching trip first and a photo trip second.

The boat sometimes gets close enough for exciting views, especially when puffins are flying around the vessel. But the viewing distance can vary from one departure to the next. Go for the birds and the experience, not a guaranteed frame-filling portrait.

The guide can make or break the hour

An expert guide accompanies every departure, and the best commentary adds real value to a short trip. Guides have explained puffin behavior, nesting, feeding, and the other birds in the bay. Rebekah has been praised for detailed narration, while Oscar, Joel, and Patricia have also been singled out for friendly and entertaining guiding.

You may hear about Arctic terns and other native seabirds as you circle the island. This helps you notice more than the puffins. The guide can point out birds flying near the boat, resting on the water, or moving between the island and the sea.

Sound quality is worth keeping in mind. The boat’s speaker system has not always carried well, especially toward the back. Sit near the guide or the main speaker if the commentary matters to you. A seat with a perfect view is less useful if you cannot hear the explanation.

The quality of the narration can also vary by departure. Most reports describe the guides as warm, funny, and well informed, but not every experience has had equally strong commentary. That is a normal risk with a short group excursion, where the guide and the boat conditions shape much of the hour.

The quiet pause near the island

After the boat circles Akurey, the crew may shut off the engine for a few calm moments. This is one of the nicest details of the outing. Without the motor running, you can focus on the sound of the water, watch birds resting nearby, and take photos without the constant vibration of the boat.

Do not expect a long silent meditation. The overall tour is only about an hour, and the stop is brief. Still, the pause gives the excursion a better rhythm than a continuous motor ride. You get time to look carefully instead of rushing from one viewing angle to the next.

Coffee is served aboard on the return journey. Food and other drinks are not included, so do not count on this as a meal. The coffee is a small comfort after time on the open water, particularly if the weather is cool or damp.

Weather, season, and what you will actually see

This cruise requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the outing, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. A weather change may also affect the birds you see, the boat’s approach, and how comfortable you feel outside.

Iceland’s weather can shift quickly, and the water around Reykjavik may feel cool even on a pleasant day. Dress for the boat rather than for a sunny walk in the city. The supplied information does not list a detailed clothing requirement, but practical outdoor layers make sense for any exposed harbor cruise.

Season is just as important as weather. Puffins are seasonal seabirds, and the number around Akurey can drop toward the end of the viewing period. One late-season trip still produced groups of birds on the cliffs and in the water, but another had far fewer. If your schedule allows, choose an earlier date in the season.

Departure time may matter, too. An early trip can have fewer people and may catch puffins feeding in the morning. That is not a guarantee, but an early start is a sensible choice if you want better viewing conditions and a less crowded boat.

Is $63.51 a fair price?

At $63.51 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend an hour in Reykjavik. The price includes the boat ride, guide, binoculars, coffee, and round-trip transfer from Skarfabakki Harbour. It also buys convenience on a cruise day, when a dependable return to the port has real value.

The excursion is strongest for someone who specifically wants puffins and has limited time. You do not need to commit half a day to a distant island or a full sightseeing circuit. The short ride leaves room for a city walk, museum visit, or another shore activity.

The value is weaker if you expect close birds, premium optics, or a long wildlife session. The time near the island may feel brief once you subtract the 15-minute ride out and the return to the harbor. Some passengers felt they had only around 20 minutes of serious puffin viewing.

For cruise passengers, the worry-free shore excursion promise is reassuring. The operator states that it will arrange transport to the next port if the ship leaves in the rare event of a delay caused by the activity. If a ship delay prevents you from taking the tour, the money is refunded. That protection is useful, though you should still follow the stated meeting instructions carefully.

Pickup details that deserve attention

Confirm which port your ship uses before booking. Skarfabakki passengers should go to the bus area and look for a Special Tours minibus. There have been reports of pickup confusion, including passengers not finding the bus even though they had a pickup address.

The operator has also helped when a passenger missed the shuttle and arrived by taxi, holding the boat for a few extra minutes. That suggests some flexibility, but do not build your plan around being late. Port transfers, harbor traffic, and ship disembarkation can eat up time quickly.

The Special Tours App is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese. It may be useful for basic tour information, but the live guide remains the key source for bird identification and commentary.

Most people can take part, and public transportation is nearby. The tour has a maximum of 33 people, but this is still a boat excursion with limited viewing angles, not a fully flexible private tour.

Who will enjoy this puffin cruise most?

This outing suits you if you are:

• A birder or nature lover who enjoys watching behavior rather than collecting perfect photos
• Visiting Reykjavik on a cruise with only a short window ashore
• Traveling with children who may prefer a compact, simple boat trip
• Interested in Arctic terns and other seabirds as well as puffins
• Comfortable accepting that wildlife sightings vary
• Able to make your own fun from a scenic ride even if the birds stay distant

You may want a different plan if you need guaranteed close-up viewing, dislike boats, or have only one chance to see puffins and are visiting outside the stronger season. This is also not the best match if your main goal is a polished photography session with powerful shared optics.

The tour has free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund, except when the operator cancels because of poor weather.

Should you book it?

I would book this cruise if puffins are high on your Iceland wish list and you value a short, port-friendly outing. The strongest parts are the expert narration, the chance to see birds flying and feeding around Akurey, the small boat, and the included transfer from Skarfabakki.

I would book early in the puffin season, choose a morning departure, bring your own binoculars if you have them, and sit where you can hear the guide. Go in expecting wildlife at a respectful distance, not a guaranteed close portrait.

If you can accept that tradeoff, this is a pleasant way to add seabirds and open water to a Reykjavik day. If you need certainty, spend your limited shore time on an activity less dependent on season, weather, and the habits of wild birds.

FAQ

How long does the puffin cruise last?

The experience lasts about one hour, including the boat ride from Reykjavik to Akurey Island, the island viewing circuit, and the return to the port.

Where does the tour begin?

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

Is pickup included from the cruise port?

Round-trip transfers are included for passengers arriving at Skarfabakki Harbour. Passengers at Miðbakki do not receive the complimentary transfer, but that dock is a short walk from the departure point.

Are binoculars provided?

Yes. Binoculars are available to use aboard the boat. You can also bring your own if you want better optics.

What birds might I see?

The main target is the Atlantic puffin around Akurey Island. You may also see Arctic terns and other native seabirds.

Can the boat get close to the puffins?

The boat is designed to reach tricky areas and cruise close to the rocky shoreline, but it must keep a respectful distance from the island. Puffins may look small, so binoculars are useful.

Does the tour run in bad weather?

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel it, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

How far in advance can I cancel?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.