Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Puffin Sightseeing Cruise

Puffins make a quick trip feel special. This one-hour cruise from Reykjavik takes you across Faxaflói Bay to Akurey Island, where you can watch puffins, Arctic terns, and other seabirds from a small boat. I like the loaner binoculars and the chance to hear useful commentary from an onboard guide rather than simply motoring out and back.

I also like the flexible departure times and the worry-free return promise for cruise passengers. Guides such as Rebekah, Oscar, Joel, and Patricia have earned warm praise for clear, friendly presentations. The main drawback is simple: the puffins may look small, and your view can depend on where you sit, the weather, the season, and the quality of the boat’s sound system.

Key points before you book

• Akurey Island is close to Reykjavik: The boat spends about 15 minutes reaching the island, leaving roughly half an hour for the wildlife viewing and return ride within the one-hour outing.
• Binoculars are supplied: They help, though some visitors found the loaners less sharp than their own pair.
• A small boat can get closer: Its shallow draft and compact size help it approach rocky areas that larger boats cannot reach as easily.
• Bird numbers change with the season: Late-season trips can still be rewarding, but many puffins may have left.
• Port pickup is limited: Transfers are offered from Skarfabakki Harbour. From Miðbakki, you need to walk a short distance to the departure point.
• The best seat matters: The island is easier to see from the starboard, or right, side on the outward trip.

Leaving Skarfabakki Harbour for Akurey Island

The excursion begins at Skarfabakki Harbour, Reykjavik’s main cruise port. If you have arranged the complimentary transfer, wait in the port bus area and look for a Special Tours minibus. This detail matters more than it sounds. A few bookings have gone smoothly only after guests contacted the company to confirm exactly where the vehicle would meet them.

Passengers arriving at Miðbakki do not receive the same transfer. The alternative dock is described as a very short walk from the departure point, but cruise ports can be confusing, especially when several ships and buses are moving at once. Give yourself extra time instead of relying on a last-minute dash.

The boat carries a maximum of 33 people. That is small enough to feel more personal than a large wildlife vessel, but it is not an empty private outing. On full departures, people naturally gather along the best viewing side. If getting a clear photograph matters to you, arrive early and try for a seat on the right side of the boat.

The vessel is designed to work in shallow water and reach close to Akurey’s rocky edge. That is a real advantage here. The boat cannot land on the island or approach without limits, since the birds and their nesting areas need protection, but its size helps you get as near as conditions allow.

The 15-minute ride across the bay

The journey to Akurey takes about 15 minutes. This is not dead time. The guide uses the ride to explain local flora and fauna, point out birds, and set realistic expectations for the viewing. Coffee is served onboard, although food and drinks are not listed as part of the included package, so do not treat this as a meal.

The open-water ride can feel calm and easy, yet Icelandic weather can change the mood quickly. One departure was rescheduled because of poor weather, and another outing took place in wet conditions. The company requires good weather for the activity and offers a different date or a full refund if conditions force a cancellation.

The commentary is one of the strongest parts of the trip when it works well. Rebekah has been praised for an excellent presentation, and Oscar, Joel, and Patricia also received warm approval for being friendly, funny, and well informed. You may hear facts about puffins along with information about Arctic terns and other local birds.

Sound quality has not been perfect on every boat. Some passengers sitting at the back could not hear the guide, while another found that the speaker became quieter as the cruise continued. I would sit near the guide or the main speaker rather than choosing the very back simply for a little more room.

Circling Akurey Island and finding the puffins

Once the boat reaches Akurey, the captain circles the island outcrop. The rocky shoreline, cliffs, water, and low island vegetation create the setting, but the puffins are the reason you are here. You may see them sitting on the water, flying around the boat, moving over the island, or carrying fish toward their young.

The most praised feature is the number of birds on a good day. Some outings have produced groups of puffins in the water and many more flying above the island. Calm conditions can be especially useful because puffins need wind to help them take off, so still weather may leave more birds bobbing on the sea where you can watch them.

The boat gets as close as environmental restrictions and safe navigation allow. That wording is important. This is not a walk up to a burrow, and you will not be standing on the island beside the birds. Even with the shallow-draft boat, puffins can appear tiny without binoculars.

The supplied binoculars make a major difference. They let you pick out birds on the island and follow movement across the water. Some people liked having them, while others found the optical quality ordinary and wished they had brought their own. If you already own compact binoculars, pack them. If not, the loaners still give you a much better chance than a phone camera alone.

Why your seat and camera matter

This is not the easiest wildlife trip for photography. The boat’s position changes as it circles the island, and the best view may not stay on your side. One particularly useful tip is to favor the starboard side on the outbound approach, since the island may remain mostly on that side until the boat turns for home.

On a crowded departure, people may lean forward or lift cameras above their heads. A small boat gives you a better chance of being near the action, but it also means less room to shift around. If you mainly want to watch, binoculars are more useful than a phone. If you mainly want close-up photographs, this trip may leave you frustrated unless you have a long lens.

The distance also depends on the day. Some sightings feel surprisingly close, with puffins flying over the boat or floating nearby. Other outings place the birds farther away, making them visible but not easy to identify without optics. The most honest expectation is this: you should hope to see puffins clearly through binoculars, not assume you will fill your phone screen with them.

After the island circuit, the captain may shut off the engine for a short period. This quiet pause is a welcome touch. Without the motor running, you can listen to the water, watch birds moving around the island, and take pictures without the constant vibration of the boat.

A short tour with a useful purpose

The advertised duration is about one hour, and the clock begins with the departure from the harbor area. That includes the ride out, the island circuit, the quiet viewing pause, and the trip back. The time spent directly beside the puffins is therefore limited, perhaps around 20 minutes on some departures.

I see this as both a strength and a weakness. The short format works well for a cruise port day. You can fit it around a ship’s schedule without losing half a day, and most people can manage the gentle boat ride. It is also a good choice for families, since the outing is brief and the wildlife can hold a child’s attention.

The tradeoff is that you do not have much room for a slow, patient search. If birds are scattered, the boat must keep moving. If the weather turns damp or the water becomes less comfortable, the hour may feel longer. You are buying a focused look at one nearby island, not a full-day birding expedition.

The guide helps make that short time worthwhile. A good narrator can explain what you are looking at, identify birds, and fill the return ride with useful facts. When the speaker works and the guide is engaged, the experience feels like a proper nature outing rather than a simple harbor transfer.

How much value do you get for $63.51?

At $63.51 per person, this is not the cheapest hour you will spend in Reykjavik. Its value depends heavily on your priorities. If puffins are high on your Iceland list, the price includes the boat, an expert guide, binocular use, coffee onboard, and a port transfer from Skarfabakki. For a cruise passenger, the return guarantee adds peace of mind.

The tour also avoids the time and cost of traveling far from Reykjavik. You can see a well-known Icelandic bird without committing to a longer coastal excursion. For a short port visit, that convenience has real value.

Still, the price can feel high if your main goal is close photography. The birds may be distant, the boat may be full, and the commentary may be hard to hear from the back. You are paying for the chance to see wild puffins in their setting, not a guaranteed close encounter.

I would consider it good value for a birder, first-time Iceland visitor, or family that wants a compact wildlife activity. I would be more cautious if you are comparing it with a longer birding trip or if your only acceptable result is a sharp puffin portrait.

Choosing the right departure time and season

Several departure times are available, which is helpful on a cruise day. An early trip may have fewer people, and one early outing found the puffins active as they searched for breakfast. That is not a promise of better wildlife, but a quieter boat can make the viewing more comfortable.

Season matters even more. Puffin numbers are not fixed throughout the operating period. Late in the season, some birds may already have left, although several late departures still saw groups in the water and on the cliffs. One final-season trip produced a worthwhile sighting but also left the sense that spring would offer a fuller show.

If puffins are the entire reason you are booking, check the operating dates carefully and aim for an earlier seasonal departure when possible. If you are visiting near the end of the season, keep your expectations flexible. You may see plenty of birds, but you may also find fewer on the island.

Port logistics and the return guarantee

For passengers at Skarfabakki, round-trip transfers are included under the worry-free shore excursion arrangement. The company says it will ensure your timely return to the port. In the rare event that your ship leaves, it promises to arrange transport to the next port of call.

That safeguard is useful, but good planning still matters. Be ready at the port bus area and look for the Special Tours minibus. There have been serious communication failures, including missed pickups and confusion over whether a guest appeared on the bus list. Confirm your pickup point before departure and do not wait silently if the vehicle does not appear.

The company has also shown flexibility in at least one delayed connection, holding the boat for a few extra minutes when a passenger arrived by taxi. That is encouraging, but I would not count on a late arrival. Cruise schedules, port traffic, and boat departures leave little room for improvisation.

The tour is offered in English. A Special Tours app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese, which may help you prepare or follow information before and after the ride.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik cruise most?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Birders who want puffins and other seabirds without leaving Reykjavik for a full day
• Nature lovers who value an expert guide and a quiet moment on the water
• Cruise passengers who need a short activity with a planned return to port
• Families looking for a manageable, kid-friendly outing
• Visitors who are happy to watch wildlife through binoculars rather than demand close photos

I would pause before booking if you dislike small boats, need guaranteed close views, or have only a phone camera and strong photography goals. The outing is also less appealing if you are visiting late in the season and have several other chances to see puffins.

Should you book the Akurey Island puffin cruise?

Book it if seeing puffins near Reykjavik is a priority and you can accept the habits of wild birds. The best departures offer many puffins, helpful guides, a compact boat, and a pleasant hour away from the city. The strongest reports praise the crew, the bird numbers, and the easy port access.

Skip it if you expect to walk among puffins or take close-up phone photos. Choose an early departure, sit on the starboard side, bring your own binoculars if you have them, and confirm the Skarfabakki pickup details. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and remember that bad weather can lead to a new date or refund.

For the right person, this is a neat little Iceland experience: short, local, and centered on a genuinely special bird. Just pack patience along with your camera.

FAQ

Where does the puffin cruise depart from?

It departs from Skarfabakki Harbour at 544P+F35, 104 Reykjavik, Iceland.

Is pickup available from the cruise port?

Yes. Complimentary round-trip transfers are offered for passengers arriving at Skarfabakki Harbour. Wait in the port bus area and look for a Special Tours minibus.

Can passengers arriving at Miðbakki use the complimentary transfer?

No. The complimentary transfer applies only to Skarfabakki Harbour. Miðbakki is a short walk from the tour departure point.

How long does the excursion last?

The cruise lasts approximately one hour, including the journey to Akurey Island, the island circuit, the quiet viewing stop, and the return to Reykjavik.

Are binoculars provided?

Yes. Binoculars are available to use onboard. You may bring your own if you want better optical quality for viewing or photography.

What birds might I see?

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

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

The experience requires good weather. If the company cancels because of poor conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.