Puffin Island boat tour from Anglesey: Wildlife and seals

Seals, puffins and the Penmon Lighthouse in an hour on the water

A wildlife boat tour from Anglesey to Puffin Island aboard a 600bhp RIB, where you watch seals and puffins in their habitat, pass the Penmon Lighthouse, and spot shipwrecks and local landmarks from the water. The tour runs about an hour with a qualified skipper who shares insights into the coastline's history and wildlife. Children from age 4 are welcome. Life jackets are provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat trip to Puffin Island wildlife

• Board high-powered RIB boat
• Travel along Anglesey coastline
• Spot puffins, seals, and seabirds
• Pass Penmon Lighthouse
• View Beaumaris from the water
• Return to departure point

The experience

The boat leaves from Anglesey and heads straight into the Menai Strait on a high-powered RIB built for speed and maneuverability. You're looking for seals hauled out on rocks, puffins diving for fish, and a run of other seabirds that nest and feed along this stretch of Welsh coast. The skipper knows where they congregate and what to watch for: dolphins and porpoises show up sometimes, though they're never guaranteed. The Penmon Lighthouse sits on a headland you'll pass, and if the light is right you'll see the old shipwrecks that litter the seabed here.

The ride itself is the point: a 600bhp RIB cuts through the water fast enough that the spray and the noise and the speed are part of what you came for. It's not a slow cruise. Beaumaris Castle slides past from an angle you can't see from shore, and the whole landscape tilts and changes as the boat banks and accelerates. The skipper is qualified to handle the boat and the passengers, and he talks through what you're seeing: the local history, the wildlife behavior, why the seals are here and what the birds are doing. It's not a lecture. It's the kind of running commentary that makes the ride make sense.

The tour runs about an hour total. If you want to see the Bridges (a separate route through the strait's narrowest points), you'll need to book the 2pm sailing, as that's the only departure that includes it. Life jackets are provided and worn throughout. Children from age 4 can go. Younger children are not permitted.

What’s included

• Life jackets for all passengers.
• skipper commentary on local wildlife and history.
• access to Puffin Island, the Menai Strait, and the Penmon Lighthouse viewpoint.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturdayDepartures at 11:00 and 12:30

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by seawake ltd

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see seals and puffins from the water without a slow, crowded boat. The RIB's speed gets you to the wildlife fast and lets the skipper position close to where the animals actually are.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

270 verified traveler reviews

5 ★261

4 ★6

3 ★2

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 15 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What wildlife will I actually see on the Puffin Island tour?

Seals, puffins, and other seabirds are the main sightings on every trip. Dolphins and porpoises pass through the Menai Strait sometimes, so they're possible but not certain. The skipper knows where the animals congregate and will position the boat to give you the best view.

How long does the Puffin Island tour take?

The tour runs about an hour on the water. If you want to add the Bridges route, which explores the narrowest parts of the Menai Strait, you'll need to book the 2pm departure, as that's the only sailing that includes both routes.

What's included in the boat tour price?

Life jackets are provided and included. The skipper's commentary on the wildlife and local history is part of the experience. Transport to and from the boat is not included, though public transportation options are available near the departure point.

Why is the boat a RIB instead of a larger tour vessel?

The 600bhp RIB is built for speed and can reach the wildlife spots quickly, then maneuver close to rocks and headlands where seals and seabirds gather. It's also responsive enough to follow dolphins or porpoises if they appear. The trade-off is that it's faster and wetter than a bigger boat. That's the experience you're paying for.