During the Exclusive Puffin Watching Tour with Powerboat you will discover the world of the Atlantic puffin in a unique way: fast, close and with maximum attention to nature. From Reykjavík's old harbour you will sail with a powerful RIB boat to small islands just outside the city, where thousands of puffins breed during the summer season.
Every day of the week. Tours in the morning and afternoon, you can indicate your preference for a part of the day.
In Reykjavik at your chosen pick-up point or at the tour starting point at:
Elding Ticket Office, Ægisgarður 5c, Reykjavík 101, IS
Are you in Reykjavík and want to see the iconic puffin up close, without wasting a whole day? Then the Exclusive Puffin Watching Tour by Powerboat is just what you are looking for. This short but complete nature experience takes you by powerful RIB boat to one of the best places to spot puffins in the wild – just a few minutes by boat from the city centre.
Departing from Reykjavík Old Harbour, you will be welcomed by an experienced team. Before departure, you will be provided with warm overalls and a life jacket – ideal for comfort and safety, even in changing weather conditions. Then, you will board a specially designed powerboat (RIB boat) that will take you quickly and easily to the bird colonies in Faxaflói Bay.
What makes this tour unique is its small-scale nature. There are a maximum of 12 passengers per boat, which means you always have a good view, space to take photos, and personal explanations from the guide. No crowds, no rush - just you, the sea and an incredible view of thousands of puffins in their natural habitat.
The Exclusive Puffin Watching Tour by Powerboat lasts approximately 1 hour, most of which is spent around the small islands where the puffins breed. The guide on board is a specialist in seabirds and will share knowledge about the behaviour and lifestyle of these striking birds in an accessible way. For example, you will learn why the puffin gets such bright colours during the breeding season, how they hunt for fish, and why Iceland is such an important place for this species.
Thanks to the fast speed of the boat you will be on location in no time and you can take full advantage of the breeding season, which runs from 20 April to 15 August. During this period the puffins come ashore and can be seen in large numbers around the rocky islands in the bay. The boats are positioned in such a way that you have an excellent view without disturbing the birds.
This tour is perfect if you want to do something active and natural, but don’t want to take a whole day trip. It combines efficiency, expertise and a unique wildlife experience in a time frame that fits into a busy travel schedule. Whether you’re a keen birdwatcher or just want to see something special during your city break in Reykjavík – this tour will fit into any itinerary.
Great tour! The weather was beautiful and the boat ride alone was worth the price. There were so many puffins and they were so cute! We saw many other birds too. Our guide Pedro was excellent. He was a marine biologist and gave us lots of interesting information. The puffins are close by so you don't have to spend a lot of time to get to them. Definitely a must do if you are visiting during puffin season!
Excellent RIB trip to Lundy Island, with puffins galore! Everywhere - in the air, in the water on the cliffs. The guide/naturalist was very knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend this trip.
Very well organised and enjoyable boat trip. I have seen many puffins in their natural habitat but I would not say you are particularly close to them. I have seen photos from friends in Ireland where they are very close. But this one is great nonetheless. The guide was knowledgeable and answered lots of questions. I loved it. Lovely to just sit in the boats and watch the puffins.
I highly recommend this boat tour for a few reasons… You see tons of puffins (they’re adorable!), but you also get to enjoy the views of Reykjavik. Our guides were informative and very engaging. We learned a lot about the puffins and the area. We took this boat tour right after arriving from an overnight flight and found it to be a nice hour long trip. We didn’t feel rushed and the hour was more than enough.
I really enjoyed this tour. I have never laughed so much seeing these amazing birds and the boat ride was fun. Pedro was also a great guide.
