Puffin Watching Tour

The charismatic puffin has attracted locals and tourists' attention around Iceland for many years. It is most likely their prismatic appearance and curious behaviour that gives rise to all the attention they get. Their most obvious characteristic during the breeding season is the brightly coloured bill which, added to their striking piebald plumage, has given rise to nicknames such as ‘clown of the ocean’ or ‘sea parrot’.

Iceland has the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in the world and close to Reykjavík there are two colonies, the island Akurey with its 12,000 pairs and the island Lundey with its 10,000 pairs of puffins. The first puffins come to shore in April after a long winter on the sea and return in August.

Our puffin watching tours are boat tours where we sail to either Akurey or Lundey. In order not to disturb the puffin's breeding we are not allowed on the island but we get as close as possible. How close we get depends on the tide and wind conditions. Luckily the puffins can stay put for a while so they are fairly easy to photograph. In addition to puffins other birds such as eider ducks, arctic terns, geese, guillemots and cormorants are a common sight.

Meeting point: Pick-up from your accommodation between 8.45am-9.15am or between 14.15pm-14.45pm hours. You must call 24 hours before departure in order to confirm the pick-up time. Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the start of the tour. Tour lasts between three and three-and-a-half hours.
Languages: Guided tour in English while other languages such as German, Spanish and French are available on request.

Transport

Assistance or guided tour

With pick up between 8.45-9.15 am

Appropriate age for child ticket from 7 to 15 years