Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour

Puffins make a quick trip unforgettable. This one-hour boat tour from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour takes you across Faxaflói Bay to Lundey and Akurey, two small islands packed with seabirds. I like the intimate wooden boat, Old Skuli, and the fact that binoculars are provided, so you are not left squinting at tiny black-and-white specks. I also like the guides, especially the lively Patrick, Joe, Rebekka, and Vera, who turn a short wildlife outing into a fun lesson about Icelandic birds. The main drawback is simple: puffins are wild animals, and even with a 100% sighting guarantee, they may look farther away than your ideal photograph.

At $64 per person, this is not the cheapest hour you can spend in Reykjavik, but it offers a focused experience with no long transfer and very little wasted time. Wind, waves, and engine noise can make the ride bumpy and the guide hard to hear, so bring warm layers, consider motion-sickness medicine, and keep your expectations aimed at seeing puffins in the wild rather than holding one close.

Key points before you book

• Two puffin islands in one hour: The route heads to Lundey and Akurey, both known for their bird colonies.
• A small wooden boat: Old Skuli carries up to 33 passengers, giving the trip a more personal feel than a large sightseeing vessel.
• Puffin sightings are guaranteed: You will receive a full refund if weather cancels the tour, while limited sightings may be handled with a complimentary future-trip voucher.
• Binoculars are supplied: You can borrow binoculars on board, a useful touch for watching birds on the slopes and rocks.
• Morning and evening can help: A May excursion noted that puffins were more active on land before 11 a.m. and around 6:30 p.m.
• The guide is part of the experience: Patrick, Joe, Rebekka, and others have been praised for humor, bird facts, and making children feel included.

Leaving Reykjavik’s Old Harbour on Old Skuli

You meet at the Special Tours office on Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. That makes this an easy addition to a day in the city, since the departure point is close to central Reykjavik sights and does not require a separate hotel transfer.

The boat, Skúlaskeið, is fondly called Old Skuli. It is an old wooden vessel with room for 33 passengers. That capacity matters. You are not on a huge ferry with hundreds of people, yet you have enough room to move around and find a useful viewing position.

The boat ride itself is part of the outing. You leave the harbor and head toward Faxaflói Bay, with Reykjavik falling behind as the islands come into view. The trip is short, so you do not spend half the booking simply getting to the wildlife area.

The tradeoff is that a wooden boat moves with the sea. In calm weather, the ride is pleasant and easy. In rougher conditions, it can be wavy. One visitor called the ride short and wavy, while another advised taking motion-sickness medicine ahead of time. If you are sensitive to movement, this is worth taking seriously.

The crew tries to keep the vessel steady near the islands, but no captain can flatten the North Atlantic. Sit where you feel most comfortable, hold onto your camera, and dress for wind even on a bright day.

Lundey and Akurey, Reykjavik’s bird-filled neighbors

The main wildlife portion takes place around Lundey and Akurey. These islands are described as small hills and slopes, and they are valued for their bird colonies rather than human access or built attractions.

Once the boat reaches the islands, the engine is turned off. This is one of the best details of the outing. Without the engine running, you get a quieter chance to watch birds moving around the rocks, flying over the water, and returning to the colony.

The boat gets close to the islands, but not right up against every puffin. That is good for the birds, though it means your view depends on the weather, your position, and the birds themselves. Several people found the puffins wonderfully close. Others reasonably pointed out that they were still watching from a distance.

This is a wildlife boat trip, not a petting-zoo encounter. You will see puffins in their own setting, with the boat respecting the edge of their habitat. If you want a close portrait with a phone, you may be disappointed. Binoculars help a great deal, and several birds may fly close to the boat, but you should still bring a camera with a useful zoom if photography matters to you.

The islands can hold thousands of puffins. One account referred to about 30,000 puffins living on the island. Numbers like that do not mean every bird will sit neatly in front of you, but they explain why the colony can feel busy with birds coming and going.

What you may see besides puffins

Puffins are the headline act, but they are not the only birds around the islands. The guide may point out northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, and black guillemots. Other outings have also included eider ducks.

That variety makes the tour more useful for anyone who likes birds in general. A guide may explain how the species share the islands and water, or show photographs to help you identify them. Joe was praised for answering questions and explaining the birds that interact with puffins, while other guides have used humor and songs to keep the group engaged.

The puffins themselves may be standing on rocks, flying over the water, swimming, or catching fish. Their activity changes with conditions and time of day. A useful tip from an early-season outing is that puffins may spend more time on land in cloudy or foggy weather, while bright sunshine can send them out to sea.

That does not make clear weather a bad thing. Calm seas make the boat ride easier and improve comfort. It simply means the best viewing conditions for you and the best conditions for watching puffins on land are not always the same.

The guide can make or break a short trip

An hour does not leave much room for a dull presentation. Fortunately, the guides have been a major strength of this experience.

Patrick, known affectionately by some passengers as the Puffin Man, has been praised for his facts, energy, and jokes. Joe has also received strong praise for explaining puffins and other seabirds, showing identification photos, answering questions, and making children part of the outing. Rebekka was remembered for her warm delivery and obvious love of the subject, while Vera was described as interesting and informative.

The style varies by departure, but the pattern is clear: you are likely to receive more than a list of bird names. The guide helps you understand what you are looking at and keeps the hour moving.

There is one practical weakness. Wind and engine noise can make the microphone difficult to hear. Two separate accounts suggested that the sound system could be clearer. If you are hard of hearing, try to sit near the guide or ask the crew where the best listening position is. On a small boat, moving a few feet may make a real difference.

The captain also contributes to the experience. Several accounts praised the crew for safe, careful handling, especially near the islands. One captain helped a passenger with mobility problems onto and off the boat. If you have mobility or medical concerns, tell the local partner in advance so the crew can assist you.

Timing your puffin trip in Iceland

Puffins are seasonal visitors, so the time of year matters. The supplied departure information does not give a firm operating season, but the accounts range from May through August. A May outing saw few puffins, possibly because it was early in the season and conditions were not ideal.

By late June and July, the reports describe large numbers of puffins. Early August still produced good sightings, including puffins on the islands and flying overhead. A late-August outing also saw puffins before they left for their next stage of the year.

For the strongest chance of active birds on land, an early morning departure before 11 a.m. or an evening sailing around 6:30 p.m. may be worth considering. This timing advice comes from an outing in May, so it should not be treated as a fixed rule for every date.

The tour offers a 100% puffin sighting guarantee, which is reassuring. Still, read that promise sensibly. It guarantees that you will see puffins, not that every passenger will get a perfect close-up photograph or watch them sit still for a full hour. If weather forces cancellation, you receive a full refund.

Is $64 good value for one hour?

At $64 per person, the price may initially feel high for a one-hour trip. A passenger pointed out that it was a little pricey, while also saying the number of puffins made the outing worthwhile.

I think the value depends on what you want. This is a good choice if you want a compact wildlife experience from central Reykjavik. The price includes the boat, English-speaking guide, guaranteed puffin sightings, and binoculars on board. You do not need to arrange transport to a distant coast or commit half a day to the activity.

The small boat also helps justify the cost. With space for 33 people, Old Skuli offers a closer, less crowded feel than a large vessel. That does not guarantee a perfect viewing place, but it gives you more of a real boat outing and less of a floating bus.

The one-hour length is another value point. Families with young children can see the islands and return before restlessness takes over. A five-year-old was able to see puffins from the boat, and teenagers also enjoyed the trip. If you are planning a packed Reykjavik day, this tour fits neatly between other activities.

On the other hand, serious birdwatchers may want more time. The company also offers three-hour options, according to one passenger, though this particular experience lasts one hour. If you want long observation periods, detailed photography, or time to wait quietly for unusual bird behavior, the shorter trip may feel limited.

Food and drink are not included, so plan to eat before or after. The harbor setting makes that easy, but it adds a small extra task to your schedule.

Comfort, clothing, and practical preparation

I would dress for cold wind, even if Reykjavik feels mild when you leave the hotel. The open water can feel much colder than the city, and drizzle is possible. Waterproof outerwear, warm layers, and secure footwear are sensible choices.

The sea can be calm or bumpy. If you know you get motion sick, take your usual medication before boarding, following its instructions. Keep your phone and camera secure, and do not rely on a perfect sunny forecast to make the trip enjoyable.

Binoculars are available on board, which saves you from packing a pair. Still, shared equipment may not always be available the instant you want it, so bring your own if birdwatching is a serious interest.

You can observe from the boat, and one passenger especially liked sitting on the roof. Ask the crew about safe viewing areas rather than moving around while the boat is underway. Wind can be strong, and the deck may be wet.

The tour is in English. Guide quality has been praised, but the sound system can struggle in wind and engine noise. Staying close to the guide is practical, especially if you want to catch the bird facts rather than simply watch the scenery.

How the tour works for families and different abilities

This is one of the more family-friendly wildlife outings in Reykjavik. The short length helps, and a child as young as five was able to see the puffins. Guides have also made a point of including younger children in the conversation.

The boat is not a fully described accessibility vessel, so you should not assume every part will be effortless. The operator asks people with mobility or medical issues to provide advance notice, and the crew can assist. One captain carefully helped a passenger board and leave the boat, which is encouraging, but personal assistance needs vary.

For families, I would place the tour early in the day if the children are fresh and the sea forecast is calm. For older children and teenagers, the guide’s humor and the chance to use binoculars add interest. For very young children, keep expectations flexible. Puffins are small, and the most exciting moments may be brief flights over the water rather than a bird sitting in one place.

Who should book this Reykjavik boat trip?

I would book it for a first visit to Iceland if you want to see puffins without giving up a full day. It suits families, casual bird lovers, photographers with realistic expectations, and anyone who enjoys a short ride on the water.

It is also a good pick for people who value a guide. Patrick, Joe, Rebekka, Vera, and other crew members have made the outing memorable through humor, clear bird facts, and friendly attention. The tour is not just a boat pointed at an island.

I would hesitate if you need a silent, stable platform for photography, dislike wind and waves, or expect puffins to appear at arm’s length. I would also choose a longer birdwatching trip if puffins are your main reason for visiting Iceland and you want time to wait for the best behavior.

Should you book the Puffin Watching Boat Tour?

Book it if you want a short, well-organized wildlife outing from Reykjavik, especially during the stronger puffin months of June through August. The guaranteed sighting, supplied binoculars, small wooden boat, and engaging guides give the $64 price reasonable value.

Choose an early morning or evening departure when possible, dress warmly, and bring motion-sickness medication if you need it. Most important, expect to watch puffins in their natural habitat from the water. You may get close, but the best reward is seeing them fly, swim, and return to the islands without disturbing the colony.

FAQ

Where does the puffin boat tour meet?

You meet at the Special Tours office on Reykjavik’s Old Harbour.

How long does the puffin tour last?

The tour lasts one hour.

What islands does the boat visit?

The boat travels to Lundey and Akurey in Faxaflói Bay, both known for their birdlife.

Are puffin sightings guaranteed?

Yes. The experience includes a 100% guaranteed puffin sighting. If the tour is canceled because of weather, you receive a full refund.

Are binoculars included?

Binoculars are available on board for passengers to use.

What language is the tour in?

The live guide speaks English.