Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Boat Tour

The best part of this Reykjavik outing is the chance to watch puffins in their own island colonies, rather than in a park or enclosure. I like the small wooden boat, which carries up to 33 people without feeling like a giant sightseeing vessel, and I like the 100% puffin-sighting guarantee. Guides such as Patrick, Joe, Rebekka, and Vera add plenty of bird facts and humor.

The tradeoff is distance. You get close to the islands, but you do not step ashore, and the puffins can still look small without binoculars or a good camera zoom. Wind and engine noise can also make the guide hard to hear, while choppy water may bother anyone prone to seasickness.

Key points to know before booking

• Two puffin islands in one short cruise: The boat visits Lundey and Akurey in Faxaflói Bay, both known for their colonies and seabird life.
• A true one-hour activity: You get a focused wildlife outing that fits neatly into a morning or afternoon in Reykjavik.
• Old Skuli keeps the group personal: The wooden boat holds 33 passengers, with room to move around and observe from different spots.
• Binoculars are available onboard: You can get a better look even if you did not pack your own pair.
• The guide makes a big difference: Patrick, Joe, Rebekka, Vera, and other English-speaking guides are praised for clear facts, warmth, jokes, and family-friendly presentations.
• Weather shapes the experience: Calm water makes the ride easier and improves viewing, while rain, wind, fog, or rough seas can affect comfort and tour operation.

Leaving Reykjavik’s Old Harbour

You meet at the Special Tours office on Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. That makes this a simple activity to add to a city day, since the departure point is central and no hotel transfer is included.

The harbor setting gives you a pleasant start. You leave the city behind quickly, heading into Faxaflói Bay toward two small islands, Lundey and Akurey. The trip is not built around long narration about Reykjavik itself. Its purpose is wildlife, so the time on the water is used to reach the bird colonies and give you a good look.

I appreciate the clear shape of the outing. At one hour, it does not take over your day. You can fit it between sightseeing stops, use it as a family activity, or book it early before a longer excursion elsewhere in Iceland. The short length is also helpful if you are unsure how you will handle a boat ride.

The boat is the Puffin Express, known locally as Skúlaskeið, or Old Skuli. It is an older wooden vessel with space for 33 passengers. That capacity matters. You are not packed onto a huge boat with hundreds of people, but you should still expect a shared group experience, not a private wildlife charter.

Riding Old Skuli across Faxaflói Bay

Old Skuli gives the tour much of its character. The boat is large enough to feel steady and comfortable in suitable conditions, but small enough to keep the islands and birds within the focus of the trip. On some departures, you may be able to sit on the roof for a higher viewing position, although the available seating can depend on conditions and the crew.

The ride can be smooth when the sea is calm. It can also be bumpy when waves pick up. If you are prone to motion sickness, take your usual precautions before boarding. The boat’s movement is one of the main practical drawbacks of this experience, especially for young children or anyone who finds short boat rides tiring.

Dress for Icelandic weather, not for the calendar. Even a pleasant day in Reykjavik can feel cold and windy on open water. A waterproof outer layer and warm clothing will make it easier to stay outside for the best views. You are not provided with food or drinks, so bring anything you need before leaving the harbor.

The guides work throughout the ride. Patrick has been singled out for a mix of humor and bird facts, while Joe has helped families follow the explanations and has used photographs to show the differences between species. Rebekka and Vera have also received praise for making the talk engaging and easy to follow. The tone is relaxed, with information mixed into the ride rather than delivered as a formal lecture.

One issue comes up more than once: the sound system could be clearer. Wind, motor noise, and the open deck can make parts of the commentary difficult to catch. Try to stay near the guide when possible, and do not worry if you miss a sentence or two. The crew and guides continue pointing out birds and answering questions as the boat moves.

Reaching Lundey and Akurey

The two islands are the heart of the trip. Lundey and Akurey have low hills and slopes, with birds using the rocky ground and surrounding water as feeding and nesting areas. The boat approaches the colonies without landing, allowing you to watch from the water.

Once the boat reaches the islands, the engine is turned off. This quiet pause is important. Instead of watching the birds through constant motor noise and wake, you get a calmer period to scan the rocks, water, and air around the colony.

Puffins may be standing on the island, flying above it, swimming on the sea, or returning from feeding. Their behavior changes with weather and time of day, so your viewing experience is not a staged presentation. You might see a bird sitting still on the rocks, then suddenly watch another shoot across the water.

The boat can get close to the islands, but close is a relative term. You remain offshore to protect the birds and their habitat. If you expect a puffin to fill your phone screen, you may be disappointed. Binoculars are supplied onboard, and they are especially useful for seeing birds on the slopes. A camera with a strong zoom will help more than a standard phone camera.

That distance is worth keeping in mind when you read the sighting guarantee. The guarantee means puffins should be seen, not that each person will get a perfect close-up photograph or a bird sitting beside the boat. One departure produced only limited sightings, likely due to early-season or environmental conditions, and the operator provided a lifetime voucher for another trip. That is a thoughtful response, but it is still best to set realistic expectations.

The puffins and their seabird neighbors

The Atlantic puffin is the star, and the colonies can be striking. Estimates shared during the tours include about 30,000 puffins living on one of the islands. You may see them in the air, on the water, and among the rocks, often in quick bursts of movement that make binoculars useful.

The guide also helps you notice birds you might otherwise overlook. Northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, and black guillemots are part of the outing. Some trips have also included eider ducks. This wider bird focus improves the experience because the bay is not just a puffin stop. You are watching a working seabird habitat with several species sharing the area.

I like this aspect of the tour for families. Children can look for the bright-faced puffins, while adults may enjoy learning how to tell the other birds apart. Guides have been especially good at including younger children, answering questions, and adding jokes without turning the trip into a noisy show.

The viewing pattern can change with the light and weather. One useful tip is to consider an early morning departure before 11 a.m. or an evening trip around 6:30 p.m. Those times may offer better chances of seeing puffins on land. Cloudy or foggy conditions can also coincide with more birds on the islands, while bright sunshine may find them out at sea. This is not a promise, but it can help you choose a departure time.

How much time do you really need?

The advertised duration is one hour, and that is close to the right amount for this focused trip. You spend part of the hour crossing the bay, then have time around the islands before returning to the harbor.

A few people may find the activity too short, especially if the boat ride becomes the highlight for them. You do not get a long period sitting beside the colonies, and the tour does not include a landing or an extended walk. If you want a fuller day on the water, Special Tours also offers longer three-hour options, according to information shared during one departure.

For most visitors, the one-hour format is a strength. It gives you a real wildlife experience without asking you to dedicate half a day. It also works well for families with limited patience, cruise passengers with a narrow schedule, or anyone adding one more activity to a Reykjavik visit.

Is the $64 price fair?

At $64 per person, this is not the cheapest one-hour activity in Reykjavik. You are paying for a boat, captain, guide, access to the islands by water, onboard binoculars, and the reassurance of a puffin-sighting guarantee.

The value depends on what you want from the outing. If you mainly want a quick glimpse of wild puffins and a pleasant cruise from central Reykjavik, the price is reasonable. Many departures produce plenty of sightings, and the short length keeps the total commitment low. If photography is your main goal, the price may feel less attractive because you cannot approach the birds as closely as a private boat might, and the boat does not land on the islands.

I would compare this with the cost of a longer wildlife cruise before deciding. The one-hour tour gives you a sharper, simpler experience. You are not paying for a full day of scenery or several distant locations. You are paying for a direct trip to the colonies, with a guide who explains what you are seeing.

The guarantee adds some value, but use it correctly. It protects you from returning without seeing any puffins, subject to the operator’s terms and weather conditions. It does not guarantee ideal sea conditions, perfect photos, or birds close enough to see with the naked eye.

Choosing the best departure time

The supplied information does not list fixed start times, so you need to check availability for your date. Still, the experiences from different departures suggest a few useful patterns.

Early morning trips can be a good choice if you want active birds and a quieter start to your day. An early departure before 11 a.m. has been suggested as a useful window for spotting puffins on land. Evening departures around 6:30 p.m. may also work well.

The time of year matters. Puffins are present during the summer season, but sightings can be weaker early in the season. A May trip may produce fewer birds than a July or early August outing, though conditions vary. During late July and the first week of August, plenty of puffins were still being seen on the islands.

Weather is the bigger variable. Calm seas make it easier to stand, listen, and keep binoculars steady. Rain or drizzle does not automatically ruin the tour, but you will need good outer clothing. Rough conditions can make the ride uncomfortable and may cause cancellations.

If the operator cancels because of weather, you receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.

Families, older visitors, and accessibility

This is a family-friendly activity in the basic sense: it lasts only an hour, does not require a hike, and gives children a clear goal. The puffins are easy to understand and exciting to look for, while guides such as Joe have made a point of including younger children in the discussion.

The boat ride itself is the part to assess carefully. Waves can make the deck move, and boarding a wooden boat may require some care. If you have mobility issues or medical concerns, tell the local partner in advance. The crew can assist, and one passenger specifically received careful help from Captain Andreas when getting on and off the boat.

No hotel pickup is included, so you need to make your own way to the Special Tours office at the Old Harbour. Food and drinks are also not included. Plan those details before you arrive, especially if you are bringing children.

Making the most of your puffin photos

You can take photos and videos from the boat, but the puffins may remain some distance away. Binoculars are provided, and you should use them before reaching for your phone. First enjoy the birds through the lenses, then try for photographs when a puffin flies close or lands in a clear spot.

A phone camera may capture the overall colony and birds in flight, but small birds on the island will be difficult to photograph in detail without optical zoom. Keep your expectations grounded. The strongest memory may be seeing puffins moving naturally around the island, not producing a perfect portrait.

Try different viewing positions on the boat. The roof can provide a useful angle, while lower areas may offer more shelter from wind. Stay alert for instructions from the crew, since safety and access can change with sea conditions.

Who should book this Reykjavik boat trip?

I would choose this outing if you want a short, straightforward wildlife activity close to the city. It is particularly useful for families, first-time visitors with a tight schedule, bird lovers, and anyone who wants to see puffins without committing to a full-day excursion.

You should think twice if you dislike small boats, get seasick easily, or need a guaranteed close-up photography experience. The puffins are wild, and the boat must keep a respectful distance. The guide may be excellent, but wind and engine noise can still make commentary hard to hear.

For most people, the strongest case is the combination of time and access. In one hour, you leave Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, reach two seabird islands, shut off the engine, and watch Atlantic puffins in their natural setting. That is a lot of Icelandic wildlife for a compact outing.

Should you book the Puffin Watching Boat Tour?

Yes, if seeing puffins is high on your Iceland list and you want an affordable, one-hour trip from Reykjavik. The 100% sighting guarantee, supplied binoculars, personal-sized wooden boat, and lively English-speaking guides make it an easy activity to fit into your plans.

Book with realistic expectations. You will likely see many puffins, but they may look small, the sea may be rough, and the microphone may be hard to hear. Choose an early or evening departure when possible, dress for wind, and treat the trip as a chance to watch wild birds rather than as a photo shoot.

FAQ

Where does the puffin boat tour depart from?

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

How long does the puffin tour last?

The boat trip lasts one hour.

Is seeing puffins guaranteed?

Yes. The experience includes a 100% guarantee of puffin sightings.

Which islands does the boat visit?

The boat travels to Lundey and Akurey in Faxaflói Bay.

Can you get off the boat on the islands?

No landing is described. You observe the puffins and other birds from the boat near the islands.

What other birds might you see?

Possible sightings include northern fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, black guillemots, and eider ducks.

Are binoculars provided?

Yes. Binoculars are available onboard.

What language is the tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Is food or drink included?

No. Food and drink are not included.

What happens if the tour is canceled because of weather?

If the operator cancels because of weather or sea conditions, you receive a full refund.

Can people with mobility issues join?

People with mobility issues or medical concerns should inform the local partner in advance so assistance can be arranged.