The 9 Best Puffin Watching Tours in Iceland

1.Puffin Watching Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,052 reviews · 1 hour · from $64Our pick

Join Special Tours Iceland at Reykjavik’s Old Harbour for a one-hour ride aboard the wooden boat Skúlaskeið, known as Old Skuli. You’ll cruise to Lundey and Akurey with an English-speaking guide, using onboard binoculars to watch puffins, fulmars, gulls, Arctic terns, and black guillemots. Guides such as Joe, Patrick, and Rebekka add plenty of bird facts and humor.

“Excellent boat ride to puffin island! The guide was very knowledgeable, and her love for puffins was quite evident! I love that they had plenty of binoculars for us to use. It was a lovely outing!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Big Whales and Puffin Island Speedboat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 979 reviews · 2 hours · from $198

Join a captain and English-speaking guide for a two-hour RIB tour across Skjálfandi Bay. With up to 12 passengers, you can reach whale sightings quickly and visit Lundey Island for puffins from April 15 to August 20. Guides such as Austin, Iñaki, and Sofie add lively facts about whales, seabirds, and ocean safety.

“we saw lots of puffins, hump back whales and dolphins. this was a lot of fun and educational. a great experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins by Speedboat

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 973 reviews · from $159

Join Gentle Giants in Húsavík for a two-hour RIB speedboat trip across Skjálfandi Bay. You will visit Puffin Island in season, then search for whales and dolphins with guides such as Matteo, Serena, Rui, and Sarah. The boat carries no more than 12 people, with warm overalls and live English commentary included.

“The tour guide was great. I would certainly recommend going with the speed boat as when a whale came up we were able to get to it quickly. We saw Humpback whales and were lucky to see a Fun whale too”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Puffin and Volcano Tour with Ebbi

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 731 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $114Top rated

Explore Heimaey Island by air-conditioned minibus with local guide Ebbi. In about two hours, you’ll visit puffin colonies, Elephant Rock, Eldfell volcano, Herjólfsdalur, and the Viking Town while hearing local stories and seeing Ebbi demonstrate Sprangan, an island climbing sport.

“What a fabulous tour. Ebbi’s passion for this community shines through. He was a non-stop source if history and knowledge of Heimaey and the people. The two hours flew by. On and off the bus frequently to see and learn about life, past and present. And those glorious puffins !!!!! Go on this tour if you ever have a chance!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Puffin Cruise with Expert Tour Guide from Reykjavik

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 636 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $63Best value

You’ll take a roughly one-hour boat ride from Geirsgata 11 in Reykjavik to Akurey Island, where puffins gather from May through August. Guides such as Patrick, Peter, and Joe share facts about puffins and local seabirds, while onboard binoculars help you spot birds from the water. Choose from several departure times, with optional paid hotel pickup.

“Quick, easy and relatively inexpensive tour from Reykjavik to see the puffin island just off shore. Commentary was good and whole operation was professional and punctual. We weren’t able to get very close to the birds, so it was difficult to see them without binoculars or a zoom lens. Our guide broke into song on the way home to sing us some traditional Icelandic songs.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Big Whales & Puffins RIB boat tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 501 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $203

Join Húsavík Adventures for a two-hour RIB ride in Skjálfandi Bay. A guide and captain search for humpback and minke whales, dolphins, porpoises, and seasonal puffins. The boat carries no more than 12 people, so every seat has a useful view. Puffins are usually present from mid-April through mid-August.

“Overall fun experience even though we took the 9am tour which was the first tour of the day hoping to see Whales, but only saw a few fins, not that exciting. Very cold, wet and rough waters getting out there so expect to get wet! They provide great gear for all. Austin our guide was great, very informative. I will say the negative was that it was also suppose to be whales & puffins, but the puffins aspect of the tour was never addressed, so not sure if what happened with that (?) overall no regrets.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Whale-Watching Cruise and Puffins Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 444 reviews · 3 hours · from $135

Join North Sailing in Húsavík for a roughly 3 to 3.5-hour cruise on a traditional oak boat. Your English-speaking guide points out whales, dolphins, puffins, and sea birds around Skjálfandi Bay. Warm overalls, hot chocolate, and a cinnamon bun help with the cold, though puffins are usually viewed from a distance.

“This was a great experience! The guide was absolutely fantastic and we saw 1 Minke Whale, 3 Humpback Whales feeding and diving (right off the bow of the ship), a pair of dolphins, Puffins and some Northern Gannets! The time of the tour was perfect...not too long and not too short! They served hot chocolate and a cinnamon roll when headed back to the dock, which was very good. I would recommend this tour to anyone visiting Iceland and the town of Husavik is charming and friendly! It snowed and was quite cold - dress in many layers with face coverings and gloves - no messing around - to be…”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Whales and Puffins Express Cruise Combo Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 442 reviews · from $148

Pair a one-hour puffin cruise on the shallow-draft Old Skúli with a 2 to 3.5-hour whale trip aboard the spacious Andrea. Guides such as Patrick and Rebecca have brought lively stories and clear wildlife facts to the boats. You may see minke and humpback whales, dolphins, porpoises, and plenty of puffins.

“It was very nice with all the Whales . We were quite lucky how close we could see them . Also the Puffins we could see a lot of them . The guide was kind and interesting to listen . He told some funny storys as well. So all in all very recommendable. Thanks again !”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Original Big Whale Safari & Puffins Speedboat Tour from Húsavík

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 417 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $180

Ride a fast RIB from Húsavík into Skjálfandi Bay with a small group of up to 12. Guides such as Nicoletta, Clara, Mario, and Victoria explain whale behavior while you search for humpbacks, minkes, dolphins, porpoises, and seasonal puffins near Lundey. Warm flotation overalls are provided.

“Very memorable experience, especially riding in the speedboat on the ocean waves. Seen puffins is not at all interesting since they are at quite a distance and you cannot see them distinctly. As far as seeing Wales, we did get a couple glimpses and it was a great experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review