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Premium Small-Group Puffin & Bird Watching tour from Reykjavík

Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Reykjavik, Iceland
Popular pick
Booked 10+ times last week!
  • 1 hour (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.9
·
· Christopher_M ·
Jun 2026
This was a fantastic adventure. The guide was very knowledgeable and funny. Worth every dollar!! So many Puffin. A Circus!
· Maria_C ·
May 2026
Great excursion. All necessary gear is provided. The guide was excellent. We saw many puffins and the boat ride was fun.

Overview

Enjoy a time-saving way to discover seabirds including puffins and other wildlife on this speedy rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) tour from Reykjavik’s Old Harbour. In small groups led by a naturalist guide, ride across Faxaflói Bay aboard a vessel that provides the best possible access to the wildlife without disturbing the nesting birds. Make several stops, catching great views (and photos) of Iceland's wild side.
  • Maximize your chances of seeing puffins and other seabirds in Faxaflói Bay
  • Get up-close to native wildlife without disturbing them
  • Choice of several departures throughout the day to fit your schedule
  • This small-group tour ensures a more personalized experience

What's Included

  • Local taxes
  • Binoculars for each passenger
  • Warm overalls, gloves, goggles and all necessary safety equipment
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • Ægisgarður 5, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

    Our ticket office is conveniently located at the Old Harbour in downtown Reykjavík - Ægisgarður 5D. Right at the corner of the harbour across the street from a variety of shops and restaurants.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Make your way to Old Harbour in Reykjavík, where you'll present this voucher for a bird watching tour. This tour is operated during the best months for spotting birds near Reykjavík, from May 15th to August 20th, and there are up to four departures each day. You’ll travel in a custom RIB boat—the Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats are the gold standard for fast trips on Faxaflói Bay, as the captain can shut off the engine in order to silently approach birds and wildlife.

Watch for some of the 30,000 puffins that nest off the coast of Reykjavík, along with the flightless great auk, and gannets, the largest seabird in the North Atlantic. Throughout the tour, the guide and captain will share facts and stories about Iceland’s puffins, Faxaflói Bay, and any wildlife you spot along the way. This tour concludes back at the Old Harbor, close to the city’s attractions, restaurants, and sights.
1

Whale Safari

10 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

2

Akurey

50 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
  • Minimum age is 10 years
  • Minimum height of 145 cm (4ft 9in)
  • Maximum weight of 140 kg (308lb)
  • Not recommended for travellers with knee problems
  • Not recommended for young children
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Shilpa_A
Maja was an incredible guide on this lovely, intimate puffin tour. She was so knowledgeable and kind. We saw so many puffins and beautiful landscapes. Highly recommend!

Reviews

4.9
based on 138 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Loved seeing the puffins

Eve_P, Jul 2026
My family of 7 (3 generations) all really enjoyed this tour. The staff was very helpful and the captain of our boat did a great job of navigating at 2 different spots where we saw lots of puffins—nesting, resting, flying and floating on the water quite near our boat. Our guide, Freda, was knowledgeable, helpful and interesting. We learned a lot about puffins and interesting facts about Iceland. Two of our family members are sensitive to getting seasick and we were fine on this boat tour. She took photos and the company shared them with us after the trip. I recommend this Blue Whale tour.

Best way to see puffins

Alex_D, Jun 2026
Saw lots of puffins and everything with the safety and organization of the trip was well done. A great experience!

Thoroughly enjoyed our...

Leanne_M, Jun 2026
Thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Anna and Emily! It was informative, fun and we saw many, many puffins and other birds. Highly recommend this tour company from start to finish!

Puffin adventure

Christopher_M, Jun 2026
This was a fantastic adventure. The guide was very knowledgeable and funny. Worth every dollar!! So many Puffin. A Circus!

Just do it - it’s a must

linda_S, Jun 2026
The best of the best It’s a must ! The staff and the boat are top notch. Boat is clean and evet seat has a view like the other person. Comfortable and dry with the clothing they supply

The puffins were...

Ryan_S, Jun 2026
The puffins were adorable. Ricardo also pointed out other unique species. It was a great experience.

Puffins for days….,,,

Brenda_S, Jun 2026
Great tour, great guide, guide took photos of birds and emailed them. All wonderful. Bring your own binoculars, or just enjoy watching them frolic, close enough to watch without them.

Very enjoyable trip on a...

Owen_B, Jun 2026
Very enjoyable trip on a small boat that gets you very close to the Puffins. It's nice that the guide is a biologist who can speak specifically about the animals, not just someone parroting regular talking points. Bring your own binoculars as there's were pretty weak quality.

Best photos are with...

Nancy_B, Jun 2026
Best photos are with telephoto lens camera. The views coming back to Reykivek by water were great. The crew was also informative.

Great puffin sightings very close to Reykjavik

MaryEllen_H, Jun 2026
Really fun RIB ride and we saw lots and lots of puffins-- in the water, on the islands, and flying. Everything went very smoothly from check-in until return. I recommend this activity, (and it helped that we had a beautiful day and little wind).

Great excursion!

Maria_C, May 2026
Great excursion. All necessary gear is provided. The guide was excellent. We saw many puffins and the boat ride was fun.

Pardon my French, but it as "PUFFIN AMAZING!!"

Thomas_J, Aug 2025
Fantastic experience. Although we were at the end of the breeding season for the Puffins.... The crew made sure that we went to a few places that still had them. They were very informative and even took some of there own pictures on our tour to email us. Most of us were using our phone camera's and they had much better SLR digital camera. They sent along their images the very next day. Highly recommend their tours. We did the Puffin Tour but I think they also have Whale watching and others.

The ride was extremely...

Francis_P, Aug 2025
The ride was extremely bumpy and frightening. I hurt my knee on one of the bumps. I believe there should be a warning on this ride. I did not realize how extreme the ride to see the puffins were. Speaking of puffins, you don't get close to them so I am not sure I can recommend this trip.

Great tour

Kaliopie_O, Aug 2025
Great tour!! Saw sooooo many puffin. Small group is the way to go so you can get close to the islands where the puffins are. Very knowledgeable guide Alex. Highly recommend

Puffins!!

Shilpa_A, Aug 2025
Maja was an incredible guide on this lovely, intimate puffin tour. She was so knowledgeable and kind. We saw so many puffins and beautiful landscapes. Highly recommend!

Puffin Tour

Kevin_N, Aug 2025
Amazing tour. Gear up was easy, entire tour was organized and our Guide was incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to see these cute birds!

Puffin boat tour

Kellie_C, Aug 2025
First time ever on a puffin tour. So fun ! Our tour guide Sam - was amazing She was very knowledgeable about the puppin life

Puffins!

Lisa_J, Aug 2025
The rib boat is very comfortable! So much fun! We saw SO many puffins! It’s a must do! If you are on a cruise boat, hop in a taxi (taxis line right by ship) and it’s a 6min ride to Whale Safari operator of puffin excursions

See the Puffins of Reykjavik

Patricia_L, Jul 2025
We wanted to see the Iceland Puffins ! There were several companies that would provide a Puffin Experience; however we chose Mr Puffin because of the ability to get very close to the Puffin Island, the Guide Experience and the ability to travel with a small group and the Time (1 1/2 hours). It was an Excellent Tour and our Guide Ricardo was a Great,Ambassador for the Puffins. He was knowledgeable and very professional. Our boat driver Sulle was Superb. She was careful and just excellent in getting us to / from the Puffin Island. It was Great Fun and we saw hundreds of Puffins. Thank You !

If you have back issues...

ElaineAnne_P, Jul 2025
If you have back issues maybe think twice as you crash down on rough waves. However, the tour was Perfect! We saw sooo many puffins up close and if you like speed boats this is for you. They ensure your comfort with special clothing and our guide Rachael was knowledgeable, super friendly and right there for any issues. Loved this adventure!

Puffins take flight in Iceland

Chad_A, Jul 2025
These folks are amazing. We ran into issues with our flight and getting there with our scheduled time. They were amazing in accommodating us. Their staff were professional and the trip was better than described. Maja was remarkably friendly and helpful. Well worth it, highly recommend.

Fabulous way to spend an hour.

Kristina_P, Jul 2025
It was very well organized and well communicated from the beginning. Beautiful weather helped and then there were the puffins. Sooo many puffins. Loved it!

A puffery of puffins

jessie_l, Jul 2025
Alma was an excellent guide who took great photos for us. We get pretty close to the puffin island but If you have good binoculars bring them because the ones provided weren’t that great.

Great Puffin Tour!!

Lynn_Z, Jul 2025
Great tour! Well organized - saw lots of puffins. Fantastic boat & we didn’t get wet at all!! They also provide very warm jumpsuits which were perfect!

Puffins!!!!

Samuel_W, Jul 2025
Really enjoyed this tour. Seeing the Puffins was something I have been wanting to do. All gear was included to make sure we were taken care of. Recommend!!!!!!

Very cute puffins

Madeleine_K, Jul 2025
Nice trip to see the puffins. They are adorable! Guides were nice and informative. We saw some at the first island and then so many at the second island. They are very small though and we could only get so close in the RIB boat. I had a 24-70MM zoom and I was in the front and it was still kind of hard to see the puffins. From what I could see, the puffins were very cute

Puffin Experience

Karen_A, Jul 2025
Small group made for ease of taking photos. This was an awesome tour. Was able to take great photos.

Rainy day puffin exoerience

Marilyn_P, Jul 2025
Great professional service. Excellent equipment provided for the windy, rainy day. Only minus is: no photo email yet 4 days after our tour.

Awesome puffin tour

Tori_L, Jul 2025
The very best way to see puffins up close. The weather cancelled the whale watching on the RIB but the puffins tour was still going because it’s closer to shore.

So many puffins

Kanda_V, Jul 2025
The perfect way to safely get close to puffins in their habitat! There were so many on the islands, in the water, and in the air. Highly recommend this experience for nature lovers.

From $101.43

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 52 days in advance.

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