Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Puffin Sightseeing Cruise

Reykjavik, Iceland

1 hour (approx.)
Pickup offered
Offered in: English

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Overview

Docked in Reykjavik and want to see the wildlife? Take this shore excursion to Akurey Island, home to puffins and other native seabirds. It’s a great 1-hour cruise to see some of Iceland’s famous scenery and wildlife, while learning about the area from an onboard guide.

1-hour puffin sightseeing cruise from Reykjavik Port
See puffins and rare bird life in their natural habitat on a Reykjavik shore excursion
Cruise from Reykjavik to Akurey Island aboard a state-of-the-art sightseeing boat
Learn about the flora and fauna of Akurey Island from an expert guide
Covered by Viator’s worry-free policy: guaranteed on-time return to your ship

What's Included

Binoculars to use on board
Worry-free Shore Excursion Guarantee - round trip transfers from Skarfabakki Harbour
Expert guide on every tour
NEW - Special Tours App (available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese)

Food and drinks
Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

41 11, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland
Please make your way to the Special Tours Ticket Office, located at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavik at least 15 minutes prior to departure.

Pickup point

Skarfabakki

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Pickup details

Please be ready at the bus area in the port and be on the lookout for a Special Tours minibus.

What To Expect

Select your preferred start time, and then cruise away from the Port of Reykjavik. The 15-minute journey to Akurey Island allows you to relax and listen to your guide’s commentary about the area’s flora and fauna.

Circle around the island outcrop and watch for the puffins and other native seabirds like Arctic terns. Your state-of-the-art sightseeing boat is designed to reach tricky areas, allowing you to cruise close to Akurey’s rocky shoreline.

When your circle of the island is complete, enjoy a few moments of peace and calm with the boat’s engine silenced. Use the time to take photos of the scenery and wildlife, and then cruise back to the Port of Reykjavik. Coffee is served on board as you go

Worry-free Shore Excursion:We will ensure your timely return to the Port of Reykjavik for this activity. In the rare event your ship has departed, we will arrange for transportation to the next port-of-call. If your ship is delayed and you are unable to attend this activity, your money will be refunded. See our terms and conditions for full details.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Please note that complimentary transfers are only applicable for passengers from Skarfabakki Harbour. Miðbakki (the alternative dock) is a very short walk to the departure point for this tour.
Wheelchair accessible
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 33 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.0

22 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 22 reviews

PUFFINS!!

Carol_U, Sep 2023

This was the last Puffin Watch of the season - and we saw groups of them in the water and on the cliffs. Lots of really good information - need to do it again in the spring!

Enjoyable

Judy_T, Aug 2023

So glad we booked the minivan trip from the port to Special Tours offices as the walk would have been too much. Despite it being the end of the season we did get to see some Puffins. Our guide onboard the boat as well as the minivan driver were very informative

Awesome tour

Lori_P, Aug 2023

The tour guide was awesome. Very informative. We saw a lot of puffins I only wish we could have gotten a closer look.

Bucket list item checked off! Amazing!

Emma_P, Jul 2023

Amazing, amazing, amazing! The crew gets you really close to the puffins, there are soo many of them flying by and over your head as well as bobbing along on the water and wandering about on the island itself. I was nervous as I'd seen reviews saying the birds are soo small you can't even see them. I've come to the conclusion these reviewers should have gone to specsavers.

Fun time viewing Puffins

CaroleTyrcha, Jul 2023

The guide was very informative! The boat was small so fewer persons than on other boats. The boat had a shallower draft so we could get a little closer to the island where the Puffins were nesting

Great trip

lee_h, Aug 2022

Short trip out to the island where there were loads of Puffins and other bird. Knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide made it all the more interesting.

Nice trip

Renata_B, Aug 2022

A very nice trip. I would recommend booking an earlier time since there were fewer people and we got to see the puffins looking for breakfast.

Great time, worth doing!!

Jessa_K, Jun 2022

Your guide was funny and informative, lots of puffins to see, such an easy boat ride and not too crowded. Loved the experience!

I'm sorry to say but this...

Brittany_D, May 2022

I'm sorry to say but this excursion was very underwhelming. It was a big group of folks (31). We went near the island but couldn't really see the puffins and binoculars were not offered. Also, we weren't required to put on lifejackets which is poor water safety. A few facts about Puffins were offered, but I would have liked way more information to keep us engaged. I would definitely NOT recommend this excursion. It was pricey as well and not worth it in my opinion. However, I did do several other tours that I booked through Viator that were awesome - South Coast tour and Golden Circle for example - I would recommend those over this excursion.

Great experience! Would definitely recommend.

Carla_H, May 2022

We had great weather for our boat ride to see the Puffins. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we got to see the Puffins around their burrow’s, in the water and flying around our boat.

Puffins Everywhere!

L6365WLjamest, Aug 2019

This is a short, nice tour to see the puffins on the islands in the bay. A naturalist was on-board, and did an excellent job educating us on puffins and other birds. I would recommend.

Really excellent! We had a very calm...

Carol K, Sep 2017

Really excellent! We had a very calm day so saw lots of puffins, as we learned they need loads of wind to take off!! Our guide on the boat gave an outstanding commentary, both interesting and entertaining. So exciting as it was a lifelong dream of mine to see these little cuties and they did not disappoint. Booking office was easy to find at the harbor and there is a handy toilet in there to use before you set sail.

The tour description is very...

Anita L, Sep 2017

The tour description is very accurate. Binoculars were provided, but the quality was not very good. Suggest you bring your own. It was a very nice day, so we sat in the back of the boat which was a big mistake because the speakers did not work. We did not hear a thing the guide said. We did get to see Puffins which was great. It was excting to see them on the island, in the water and flying around.

We saw puffins, but only from a...

John P, Jul 2016

We saw puffins, but only from a significant distance. Worse, the guide was very perfunctory in his commentary and displayed a general attitude of boredom and indifference.

Excellent short trip from the main...

Denise_F, Jun 2016

Excellent short trip from the main harbour, but not many puffins. Considering they are the main reason to visit or do this trip I think they should give seasonal tours with more breed specific dates.

nice day trip out to the island that is...

Brendan T, Jun 2016

nice day trip out to the island that is 10 minutes away. Pretty neat little things

Pretty tough to see puffins in any...

Stephen S, Aug 2015

Pretty tough to see puffins in any detail but the narrative and the narrator were informative and interesting.

Supposedly we went out on a calm...

John B, Jul 2015

Supposedly we went out on a calm day. Trip was quite scary. Boat was very small for 37 people. Life vests were available but not given out. People were terrified as boat rocked from side to side once we got our of the harbor. Some people got sick. Could not get very close to view puffins.

Seeing puffins was awesome! They are...

Stefanie M, Jun 2015

Seeing puffins was awesome! They are very cute little birds!

I would love the opportunity to do...

LuAnn G, May 2015

I would love the opportunity to do this again, when the puffins are all home. We only saw 4, and that was because we did the very first tour of the summer, May 1. I understand and do not discredit the planned tour at all. Just too early in the year. The tour team was knowledgeable and very nice.