Reykjavík: RIB Speed-Boat Puffin Watching Tour

Puffins meet Reykjavík at full speed. This one-hour RIB trip takes you from the harbor toward nearby puffin islands, giving you a closer look than a larger sightseeing boat and a fine view back toward Harpa Concert Hall. I like the small, nimble boat, and I like that the outing combines wildlife with a quick coastal ride rather than spending the whole hour on one slow approach.

The tour also gives you a full-body waterproof suit, goggles, and a life vest, which matters in Iceland’s chilly air. The main drawback is comfort: one recent participant found the suspension-boat seats hard on the back, and the meeting point can take a little finding. You should arrive 30 minutes early, not at the last minute.

Key points at a glance

• About 40,000 puffins: The nearby islands are described as home to a large puffin population during the season.
• A faster, closer approach: The RIB can get nearer to the islands than bigger boats, which helps with viewing and photographs.
• A one-hour harbor outing: You see puffins and Reykjavík from the water without giving up half a day.
• Harpa from offshore: The ride along the city coastline adds a memorable urban view to the wildlife trip.
• Warm gear is supplied: You receive a full-body waterproof suit, goggles, and life vest, but not waterproof shoes.
• A lively ride with tradeoffs: The boat offers more motion and excitement, though the seats may feel firm if your back is sensitive.

Why this short puffin trip works well in Reykjavík

A one-hour boat tour is an easy fit in a Reykjavík schedule. You can place it between a museum visit, a harbor meal, or another city activity without spending most of your day on transport. At $81 per person, it is not a cheap harbor cruise, but you are paying for a specialized RIB, a guide, protective equipment, and access to puffin-viewing areas that larger boats cannot approach as closely.

The best reason to choose this outing is the boat itself. A standard whale-watching vessel gives you more room and usually a smoother ride, but a RIB can turn and move around the islands with greater ease. That does not guarantee a perfect wildlife encounter. Puffins are wild birds, and their location and behavior cannot be controlled. Still, the boat design gives you better odds of getting near the colonies.

I also like the balance between nature and city scenery. You are not simply taken straight out to sea and back. The route follows Reykjavík’s coast, with a view of Harpa Concert Hall from offshore. That small city perspective helps the excursion feel connected to Reykjavík rather than like a separate trip pasted onto your itinerary.

Iceland is home to roughly 60 percent of the world’s puffin population, according to the tour information. That makes a puffin outing here more than a pleasant photo stop. It connects you with one of the country’s best-known wild animals in its natural setting.

Finding the wooden hut before departure

The meeting point is a small wooden hut in a row of similar huts, marked REYKJAVIK BY BOAT. You need to find your own way there because hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, though pickup can be purchased as an add-on.

Give yourself more time than you think you need. A recent departure caused confusion because the location appeared to refer to one hut while the building nearby was locked. Asking at the next hut helped identify the correct place. The practical lesson is simple: arrive at least 30 minutes before departure and do not wait until boarding time to search.

That early arrival is not wasted. You need time to check in, put on the supplied clothing, and get ready for the boat. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so bring only what you can keep with you comfortably. A small camera or phone may be useful, but you should protect it from spray.

Getting suited up for Icelandic water

The tour supplies a full-body waterproof suit, goggles, and a life vest. This is important because the boat moves quickly and the exposed ride can feel cold even when Reykjavík’s streets seem comfortable. The suit helps keep you dry, while goggles protect your eyes from wind and spray.

You should still wear warm clothing underneath. The official advice is to bring comfortable shoes and warm clothes. Waterproof shoes are not included, so choose footwear that can handle a wet marine setting. The supplied suit is not a substitute for sensible layers or proper footwear.

The outfit may feel bulky at first, but it is a good trade for a short, open-water ride. You can pay more attention to the guide and the birds when you are not worrying about every splash. Goggles may look a little comic in harbor photographs, but on a fast boat they serve a purpose.

Leaving Reykjavík with Harpa behind you

Once everyone is ready, you board a custom-built RIB with suspension seats. The first part of the route gives you a view of Reykjavík from the water, including Harpa Concert Hall along the coast. Harpa’s striking exterior looks different when seen from offshore, and this is a pleasant extra for anyone who has already visited the building from land.

The ride is part transport and part attraction. A RIB gives you more speed and motion than a large sightseeing boat, so the journey itself has energy. That is one reason the French participant described it as offering more sensation than a big boat.

The tradeoff is that a lively ride may not suit everyone. The seats are designed to soften the movement, but one person found them hard on the back. If you have back problems, this activity is not suitable according to the tour rules. Pregnant people and anyone under 4 feet 6 inches, or 140 centimeters, also cannot take part.

Reaching the puffin islands

The main goal is the group of islands near Reykjavík where puffins gather. The tour information places the population at about 40,000 puffins, though the exact number you see on a particular outing will depend on the birds, the season, weather, and viewing conditions.

The RIB’s size matters here. A larger boat must keep more distance and has less freedom to move around a small island. This speedboat can get closer to the colonies, giving you a better chance to watch birds on the water, in the air, or around the rocky island edges.

You should keep your expectations realistic. Closer does not mean touching distance, and you should not expect every puffin to pose neatly for a photograph. Wildlife watching works best when you enjoy the whole scene: the movement of the boat, the birds flying around the islands, and the guide’s explanations.

The guide provides live commentary in English. One participant specifically praised the explanations, while another said the guide offered interesting information at three different locations. The exact route can vary, but the format gives the outing more substance than simply pointing a camera toward an island.

What the guide adds to the hour

A good wildlife guide helps you understand what you are seeing, and this trip includes more than bird spotting. One particularly useful subject is the harm caused by puffin hunting and the ways people can help stop it. That conservation message gives the encounter a wider purpose without taking away from the fun.

You may also learn about Iceland’s importance to the world’s puffin population and the role of the nearby islands as breeding sites. The information provided does not promise a set lecture or a named guide, so the exact style of commentary will depend on the person leading your departure. Still, the outing is guided in English throughout.

The short duration means the commentary needs to be focused. You are not signing up for a long natural science program. Instead, you get a compact introduction to puffins, the islands, and the coastal setting, with the boat ride doing much of the work.

Photographing puffins from a fast boat

The RIB offers a clear advantage for photographs because it can approach more closely than larger boats. You may be able to frame puffins with the rocky islands behind them, or turn your camera toward Reykjavík and Harpa on the return route.

There are practical challenges. The boat can move, the air can be cold, and spray may reach you. A phone held loosely is a poor plan. Keep your camera secure, use a protective case if you have one, and be ready to watch with your eyes instead of chasing every bird through a screen.

Puffins are small, quick, and not always cooperative. The best photographs may be imperfect, but that is part of the appeal. You are seeing wild birds in their own setting, not animals arranged for a picture.

The return ride and what fits into one hour

The whole outing lasts one hour, including the trip out to the islands, time near the puffin colonies, and the return to the starting point. That makes the experience efficient, but it also means you should not expect a long period parked beside the birds.

The route can include several viewing areas. A participant described visiting three different places by boat, which suggests that the guide may use the hour to show more than one section of the area when conditions allow. Do not treat that as a guaranteed fixed itinerary, but it is a useful sign that the trip is not necessarily one straight run to a single island.

At the end, the boat returns to the original meeting point. Since the tour does not include food or drinks, plan your snack or meal before or after the ride. Reykjavík’s harbor setting makes it easy to continue with other city plans, but those arrangements are yours to make.

Is $81 a fair price?

At $81, this is best judged against the type of experience you want, not against the price of a basic harbor cruise. You receive a guided wildlife trip, a faster RIB boat, safety equipment, waterproof clothing, and a chance to approach the puffin islands more closely than a larger vessel.

The value is strongest if you care about the combination of wildlife and speed. A slower, roomier boat may suit you better if comfort and steady photography matter most. The RIB is aimed at people who want a more active ride and a compact outing.

The price also reflects the convenience of doing this from Reykjavík. You do not need a full-day transfer to a distant bird colony. If you have only a short stay in the capital, this can give you a genuine Iceland nature experience without taking over your schedule.

Still, the price does not buy a guaranteed number of puffins or perfect weather. That is true of any wild-animal outing. You are paying for the access, equipment, guide, and chance to see the birds, not for a staged show.

Who should book this RIB tour?

I would recommend it to adults and older children who meet the 140-centimeter height requirement and enjoy a quick, open-water ride. It suits you particularly well if you want a short activity, prefer a smaller boat, and like the idea of seeing Reykjavík’s coast from a fresh angle.

It is also a good choice for photographers who value proximity over complete stability. The boat can get nearer to the islands, but you need to accept movement, wind, and spray. The supplied goggles and suit make those conditions easier to handle.

Think twice if you have back problems, are pregnant, or dislike a fast boat. The hard seats are a real comfort consideration, even though they include suspension. If you need generous space for luggage, this is also the wrong outing because large bags are not permitted.

The tour is offered in English, so you should be comfortable following live commentary in that language. Food, drinks, waterproof shoes, and transport from your hotel are not included.

Booking, timing, and cancellation advice

Check the available departure times when you book, since the one-hour tour runs at scheduled times rather than whenever you arrive. Reserve early enough to fit the boat ride around other Reykjavík plans, and keep the 30-minute pre-departure arrival rule in mind.

The booking terms allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful when Iceland weather or your wider schedule is still changing. Even with that flexibility, you should choose clothing and timing carefully because the boat cannot control the conditions on the water.

Should you book the Reykjavík puffin speedboat?

Book this tour if you want a compact, active puffin encounter with a better approach to the islands than a large boat can usually provide. The wildlife is the star, but the ride, Harpa views, and conservation commentary make the hour feel full.

Skip it if you need a very gentle boat, have a sensitive back, or want a long, unhurried bird-watching session. For everyone else, $81 is a reasonable price for a specialized one-hour outing from central Reykjavík, especially when your Iceland schedule leaves little room for a longer excursion.

FAQ

How long is the Reykjavík puffin boat tour?

The tour lasts one hour, including the boat ride to the puffin-populated islands and the return to the starting point.

Where does the tour meet?

Meet at the small wooden hut marked REYKJAVIK BY BOAT, located in a row of wooden huts. You should arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Pickup and drop-off are not included in the standard tour, but they are available as an add-on purchase.

What clothing and equipment are provided?

The tour provides a full-body waterproof suit, goggles, and a life vest. You should bring warm clothing and comfortable shoes. Waterproof shoes are not provided.

Is the tour guided in English?

Yes. The tour includes a live guide, and the available language is English.

Who cannot join this activity?

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or people under 4 feet 6 inches, or 140 centimeters.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The booking option also allows you to reserve now and pay later.