Reykjavik: Puffin & Bird Watching RIB Boat Tour, Small Groups

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.81 (157 reviews) 87% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/9

Duration1h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

See puffins nesting on Icelandic islands without leaving the boat

You arrive 30 minutes early at the Old Harbour, suit up in warm gear and binoculars, then ride a small RIB boat out to nesting islands where your guide points out puffins and other seabirds. The boat stays close but you remain aboard throughout. Tours run multiple times daily May through August, each lasting around two hours, with all safety equipment and local taxes included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Puffin and bird watching tour

Arrive at Old Harbour ticket office
Prepare for the tour 30 minutes prior
Guide walks group to docked boat
Sail near 2-3 puffin nesting islands
Observe puffins from RIB speedboat
Return to Old Harbour

The Experience

What do you actually see when you get close to a puffin colony? The tour leaves from Reykjavik's Old Harbour and runs up to nine times daily between May and August, so you pick a time that fits your schedule. You arrive 30 minutes early at the ticket office to get suited up — warm overalls, gloves, goggles, the works — then walk down to the RIB speedboat with your guide and up to 11 other passengers.

The boat heads out to 2–3 islands where puffins nest. These are nature reserves, so you stay aboard the whole time, but the RIB gets you close enough to see them properly. Your guide knows the birds — what species are around, where they're nesting, what they're doing — and hands out binoculars so you're not squinting at shapes on a cliff. The ride itself is fast and a bit bouncy; the boat's built for speed and maneuverability, not smoothness. Weather doesn't stop the tour, so dress in layers and expect salt spray.

The whole thing takes a couple of hours. You're back at the Old Harbour by mid-morning or mid-afternoon depending on which slot you book. No long bus ride, no hiking to a viewpoint, no guessing whether you'll actually see anything — the puffin tour from Reykjavik handles the transport and the expertise, and you just show up.

What’s included

Warm overalls, gloves, goggles and all necessary safety equipment are provided.
Each passenger gets binoculars.
Local taxes are included in the price.
You arrive 30 minutes before departure to prepare at the ticket office in Reykjavik's Old Harbour, then the guide escorts you to the RIB boat.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Whale Safari

Is this one for you?Right for anyone who wants to see puffins without arranging their own boat or guide — the small-group format and fixed schedule mean you show up, get geared up, and spend your time watching birds instead of figuring out logistics.