Vestmannaeyjar: ATV Volcano & Puffin Tour with Stórhöfði Views

Summary

ATV ride through Vestmannaeyjar’s wild lava fields and puffin cliffs

You’ll ride an ATV across Vestmannaeyjar’s dramatic lava fields and windswept cliffs with a local guide—spotting Elephant Rock up close, watching puffins swirl over Stórhöfði, hearing stories of volcanic eruptions and survival at Prestvik beach. All gear is included so you can focus on soaking up salt air and wild island views—you’ll remember how it felt long after.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — ATV tour of volcanoes and puffins

• Start ATV tour heading south
• See elephant rock landmark
• Drive to Stórhöfði for views
• Walk and watch puffins
• Hear puffin facts from guide
• Drive off-road through lava fields
• Visit Prestvik beach shipwreck
• See Guðlaugur Friðþórsson survival site
• Explore Eldfell volcano and coast

Top questions

Is prior ATV experience needed for this tour?

No prior ATV experience is needed; vehicles are automatic and easy to drive.

Are children allowed on the ATV tour?

Yes, passengers must be 6 years or older; drivers need a license.

What should I wear for the ATV tour?

Wear comfortable clothes; waterproof overalls, gloves, and helmets are provided.

Does the tour include seeing puffins?

Yes, you’ll stop at Stórhöfði where you can observe puffins during their season.

Is pickup included from hotels or cruise ships?

The tour includes options for cruise ship passengers; public transport is nearby for others.

What happens if bad weather cancels my cruise ship arrival?

If your cruise ship cannot enter Vestmannaeyjar due to weather or other reasons, you receive a 70% refund.

How long is the day trip on Vestmannaeyjar by ATV?

The exact duration isn’t listed but covers several key sites including Elephant Rock, Stórhöfði, Prestvik beach, and Eldfell volcano.

What’s included

Your day includes all necessary riding gear: waterproof overalls to block out that relentless Icelandic wind (trust me), sturdy gloves for gripping those handlebars even when it gets bumpy near Eldfell volcano, plus helmets sized for everyone—so you can focus on watching puffins or listening to Jónas’ stories instead of worrying about what you forgot to pack.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the sound — wind whipping past my helmet, a kind of salty tang in the air that clings to your cheeks. We’d just started our ATV tour in Vestmannaeyjar and already my gloves felt like a good idea. Our guide, Jónas, grinned at us before pointing out Elephant Rock. It actually does look like an elephant if you squint (I tried not to laugh). There’s something about seeing it up close that makes you feel tiny, but also sort of lucky to be there.

From there we rattled south towards Stórhöfði. The road smoothed out and suddenly we were looking out over the whole island cluster—low clouds, bits of sun glinting off the sea, and in the distance, Surtsey just barely visible. Jónas told us this is the windiest spot in Iceland. He wasn’t kidding; my jacket flapped so hard I thought it might take off. Then he led us down a little path where puffins darted around like they owned the place. Their wings beat so fast it’s almost funny—they’re awkward on land but somehow graceful in the air. I tried to get a photo but mostly just ended up laughing at myself.

The off-road part was next—lava fields that looked like another planet, black rock piled everywhere from Eldfell’s eruption back in ‘73. The ATVs bounced and skidded a bit (nothing scary), and Jónas stopped us at Prestvik beach where he told this wild story about Guðlaugur Friðþórsson swimming for hours after his ship sank. You can still smell the seaweed here, sharp and cold, mixed with something metallic from the rocks. I didn’t expect to feel so much history under my boots.

We finished by circling Eldfell itself—the volcano is redder than I thought—and then along the coast again, where everything felt quiet except for seabirds overhead. Even now I keep thinking about those colors: black lava, green moss, orange-red slopes. If you’ve never heard wind howl across an Icelandic cliff while wearing a helmet two sizes too big… well, it’s worth it for that alone.