Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour

Puffins are the stars here, and the tour gives you a real chance to see them in the wild without spending half a day at sea. The boat heads from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour to the nearby islands of Lundey and Akurey, where puffins gather on the rocky slopes and skim over the water.

I like the one-hour length, which fits neatly into a busy Reykjavik day, and I like the small wooden boat, Skúlaskeið, known as Old Skuli. It carries up to 33 people, so you get a proper boat trip without being packed onto a large vessel. The main drawback is that this is still a sea outing: wind, waves, and engine noise can make the ride bumpy and the guide harder to hear.

Key points

• Puffin sightings are guaranteed, although weather and seasonal conditions can still affect how close or active the birds seem.
• Lundey and Akurey are the main wildlife stops, both close to Reykjavik in Faxaflói Bay.
• Old Skuli is a 33-passenger wooden boat, small enough to feel personal and roomy enough to move around.
• Binoculars are provided, a real help when birds sit on the island rather than fly near the boat.
• English-speaking guides bring the trip to life, with guides such as Patrick, Joe, Rebecca, and Rebekka praised for humor and bird facts.
• Early morning and evening departures may be best for seeing puffins active on land, based on seasonal conditions described by passengers.

Setting Out From Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

You meet at the Special Tours office in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. This is a handy starting point if you are already exploring the waterfront, and the short transfer from city streets to open water gives the tour a pleasant change of pace.

The harbor itself is part of the experience. You leave behind Reykjavik’s working waterfront and head into Faxaflói Bay, with the city soon becoming a backdrop rather than the main event. Because the trip lasts only an hour, there is no long journey before the wildlife portion begins.

You board Skúlaskeið, the old wooden boat fondly called Old Skuli. The vessel holds up to 33 passengers. That size matters: you are not on a huge whale watching ship with room for hundreds, but you also are not squeezed into a tiny craft. The boat has enough space for passengers to find a useful viewing spot, and some departures allow people to sit on the roof for a higher view.

The boat can move noticeably in the waves. Calm water makes the ride easy, but a rougher crossing may feel lively, especially for anyone prone to motion sickness. If that sounds like you, take your usual medicine before boarding and keep your expectations realistic. This is a working wildlife boat, not a smooth harbor cruise.

Cruising Across Faxaflói Bay

Once Old Skuli clears the harbor, your guide begins explaining the birds and the islands ahead. The guides are one of the strongest parts of this outing. Patrick, often called the Puffin Man, is known for mixing facts with jokes, while Joe has been praised for showing photographs of different bird species and making sure children are included.

Other guides named by passengers include Rebecca, Rebekka, Vera, Celina, and Joel. You cannot choose your guide, but the pattern is clear: the commentary is meant to be lively rather than a dry list of bird names. Some guides add songs, jokes, or local touches, including an Icelandic lullaby and a sea chanty on different trips.

The boat engine and wind can make hearing difficult. This is the one recurring practical weakness to keep in mind. Several people found the sound system less clear than it should be, especially when the boat was moving or the wind picked up. Try to stand or sit near the guide when possible, and do not worry if you miss a sentence. The birds are still the main event.

You have binoculars available on board. That is important because puffins are wild birds, and the boat must keep a respectful distance from their nesting ground. A puffin may look close when it flies over the boat, but most views involve watching birds on the island, in the water, or moving between the slopes.

Lundey and Akurey, Reykjavik’s Puffin Islands

The boat visits two nearby islands, Lundey and Akurey. Both are marked by low hills and sloping ground, with bird colonies spread across their rocky surfaces. When Old Skuli reaches the islands, the engine is turned off so you can watch in quieter conditions.

This pause is the heart of the tour. Puffins may stand on the rocks, fly over the water, swim, or return to the island with food. You may also see northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, black guillemots, and eider ducks. The variety makes the outing worthwhile even when a particular puffin is too far away for a sharp photograph.

The islands are not a visitor attraction with paths, buildings, or a landing. You stay on the boat and observe the birds from the water. That is good for the colony, but it also means you should not picture yourself strolling among puffins or holding one close. The natural setting is the point, and the boat gives you a safe viewing place without entering the nesting area.

The number of puffins can be impressive. One island is described as home to around 30,000 puffins, though your actual view depends on weather, timing, and where the birds are at that moment. You may see groups perched on the slopes, birds passing overhead, or quick flashes of color as they move over the bay.

A bright, calm day is pleasant for boating, but it does not always produce the best puffin behavior. One useful observation from an early season trip is that puffins may spend more time on land in cloudy or foggy weather, while bright sunshine can send them out to sea. Early morning departures before 11 a.m. and evening trips around 6:30 p.m. may offer better chances of seeing active birds on the islands, though no time can control wildlife.

Getting Close Without Entering the Colony

The phrase close to the puffins needs a little explanation. The boat can approach the islands closely enough for good views, but the birds remain at a natural distance. You might see one clearly through binoculars, while a camera with a standard phone lens produces a less satisfying result.

This is not a flaw in the tour. Puffins are small, and the boat should not crowd their habitat. One passenger found the birds farther away than expected, while others described the boat as close enough to watch puffins flying, swimming, fishing, and standing on the rocks. Both impressions can be true on the same route, depending on sea conditions and bird activity.

Bring your camera, but treat photographs as a bonus rather than the main goal. The best moments may be watching a puffin return to the island, seeing several birds skim low over the water, or spotting a different seabird among the colony. The binoculars make these moments much more rewarding.

The roof can be a useful viewing position if it is available on your departure and you are comfortable with the boat’s movement. A higher position gives you a wider view of the islands and the water, while the lower deck may feel steadier in rough conditions. Ask the crew if you need help moving around. Passengers with mobility concerns have received careful assistance boarding and leaving the boat, but you should tell the local partner about any mobility or medical needs in advance.

How the One-Hour Schedule Works

The one-hour format is both the tour’s strength and its limit. You get a quick wildlife outing that fits before lunch, after a city walk, or between other Iceland plans. Families often find the length manageable, and younger children do not have to endure a long crossing before returning to shore.

The schedule also keeps the experience focused. You travel out, watch the islands with the engine off, hear about the birds, and return to the Old Harbour. There is no food service and no hotel transfer, so plan to arrive at the meeting point on your own and bring anything you need for the hour.

The short duration can feel too brief if the birds are especially active or if you want time for serious photography. One person wished the trip lasted longer, while another found the hour exactly right. I would choose this version if you want a clear introduction to puffins, not a full birding expedition.

The operator also offers longer three-hour outings, according to information shared during one trip. If your main aim is extended time at sea or more patient wildlife watching, that may suit you better. The one-hour trip is the efficient choice for most first-time visitors with limited time in Reykjavik.

Guides Who Make the Birds Memorable

A good wildlife guide does more than point toward a bird. The guide helps you understand what you are seeing, and that personal touch has been especially strong on this trip. Patrick’s humor and puffin facts receive repeated praise, while Joe is noted for answering questions and using photographs to explain different species.

Rebekka has been described as especially warm when talking about puffins, and guides such as Vera and Celina have also been praised for clear explanations. Names and personalities change from departure to departure, but the guide is generally active throughout the ride rather than leaving you to scan the islands alone.

You will hear about puffins as well as the other birds sharing the islands. Northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, black guillemots, and eider ducks add variety to the hour. If you already know a little about seabirds, you can ask questions. If you are new to bird watching, the guide helps you notice more than just the puffins.

Families are welcome. The guides have made a point of including children, and the binoculars let younger passengers take part rather than simply watch adults use cameras. The boat ride, bird activity, and short duration make this a sensible choice for children who can handle a boat trip.

Is $64 a Fair Price for One Hour?

At $64 per person, this is not the cheapest hour you can spend in Reykjavik. You are paying for the boat, crew, guide, access to the islands, and the chance to see puffins in their natural setting. There is no meal, transfer, or long itinerary folded into the price.

I think the value is solid if puffins are high on your Iceland wish list. The 100 percent sighting guarantee reduces the biggest risk of a wildlife outing, and binoculars are included. You also get a small boat and a guide who adds useful context rather than simply transporting you to a viewpoint.

The guarantee does not mean perfect photographs or a guaranteed close encounter. Weather can change the route or cancel the trip, and the birds may be on the water rather than sitting near the island. If poor weather causes cancellation, you receive a full refund. One early season departure produced few puffins, and the company offered a lifetime voucher for another trip, which is a reassuring response when nature does not cooperate.

Compared with a longer sea excursion, this tour costs more per hour. Compared with a longer excursion, it also asks less of your day and your stomach. I would pay the price if you want a compact, family-friendly wildlife activity from central Reykjavik.

Weather, Clothing, and Practical Comfort

Iceland’s weather can change quickly, and open water makes wind feel colder than it does on land. Wear warm layers and a weatherproof outer layer, even if Reykjavik feels mild when you leave the hotel. The boat is exposed, so comfort depends as much on clothing as on the forecast.

Rain does not automatically ruin the outing. A light drizzle still allowed passengers to enjoy the birds and the guide on one trip. Calm water, however, makes it easier to hear the commentary, use binoculars, and keep your camera steady.

The tour depends on sea conditions. If the operator cancels because of weather, you receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve now, pay later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.

There are no transfers, food, or drinks included. Meet at the Special Tours office in the Old Harbour, and plan your own way there. If you have a mobility issue or medical concern, tell the local partner before the trip so the crew can assist you.

Who Should Book This Puffin Trip?

This outing suits you if you want to see puffins without committing to a long boat day. It is especially useful for a first visit to Reykjavik, a family with children, or anyone building a packed schedule of museums, pools, and city walks.

Bird lovers will enjoy the extra species and the chance to ask questions. Casual visitors will appreciate that the guide keeps the trip entertaining and that you do not need prior birding experience. The provided binoculars also remove one small expense and make distant birds easier to identify.

You may want another option if you dislike boats, suffer badly from motion sickness, or need guaranteed quiet conditions for photography. The tour can be wavy, the sound system may be hard to hear, and the puffins may not always sit as close as you hope.

Should You Book the Puffin Express?

I would book it if seeing puffins in the wild matters to you and you have one free hour in Reykjavik. The combination of a guaranteed sighting, two nearby islands, a small wooden boat, loaner binoculars, and lively English guides gives you a lot in a short time.

Book with realistic expectations. You will see puffins, but you may not get a perfect close-up photograph. Choose an early morning or evening departure if the timing works, dress for wind, and take motion sickness medicine if you need it. For a compact and reasonably priced introduction to Iceland’s seabirds, this is an easy choice.

FAQ

Where does the puffin boat tour depart from?

The tour departs from the Special Tours office at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour.

How long is the Reykjavik puffin tour?

The boat trip lasts one hour.

Are puffin sightings guaranteed?

Yes. The tour includes a 100 percent guarantee of puffin sightings.

Which islands does the boat visit?

The boat travels to Lundey and Akurey in Faxaflói Bay.

What other birds might I see?

You might see northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, black guillemots, and eider ducks in addition to puffins.

Are binoculars provided?

Yes. Binoculars are available on board.

What language is the tour in?

The live guide speaks English.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. The short one-hour format is suitable for families, and guides make an effort to include children.

What happens if the weather cancels the tour?

If the tour is canceled because of weather, you receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund.