L
Excellent Puffin Tour!
The tour was amazing! Our first try at going on this tour was canceled and they made it easy to reschedule. The tour guides and boat captain were awesome! Would definitely recommend this puffin tour!
Puffin Express 1-Hour Close Encounter from Reykjavik
+8 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Price from
- $65 / person
- Location
- Reykjavik, Iceland
- Rating
- 4.6 / 5 · 16 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 33
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Reykjavik Sailors
- Meeting point
- Tour will be operated by Special Tours and starting point for this tour is at Special Tours Ticket Office, located at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík.
Description
Embark on a delightful 1-hour journey to the puffin colony, where you'll be enchanted by the playful antics of these adorable birds. Get an up-close and personal experience as you observe them in their natural habitat, nestled along the rugged coastline.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 7 times a day, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
- Season
- Starts May 1, 2027
- Adult (ages 16+)
- $65
- Youth (ages 7–15)
- $33
- Child (ages 0–6)
- Free
Out at sunset: the 5:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:48 PM in the coming weeks.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 8.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Embark on a delightful 1-hour journey to the puffin colony, where you'll be enchanted by the playful antics of these adorable birds. Get an up-close and personal experience as you observe them in their natural habitat, nestled along the rugged coastline.
What's included
Included
Guided boat tour
Binoculars provided on board!
Experienced guide & friendly crew on every tour!
100% Sightings
Not included
Food and drinks, unless specified
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.6
16 reviews
How it compares in Reykjavik
- Starting price $65 is 53% below the typical $137 for tours of similar length in Reykjavik
Excurgo comparison of 1,572 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Puffin Express 1-Hour Close Encounter from Reykjavik take?
Puffin Express 1-Hour Close Encounter from Reykjavik lasts about 1 hour. The itinerary has 1 stop.
How much does Puffin Express 1-Hour Close Encounter from Reykjavik cost?
Prices start at $65 per person for this Reykjavik experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Puffin Express 1-Hour Close Encounter from Reykjavik run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 7 departures a day between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
How much does Puffin Express 1-Hour Close Encounter from Reykjavik cost for children?
Children aged 0–6 pay nothing, adults from $65.
Can I cancel Puffin Express 1-Hour Close Encounter from Reykjavik for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Tour will be operated by Special Tours and starting point for this tour is at Special Tours Ticket Office, located at Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Puffin Express 1-Hour Close Encounter from Reykjavik offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 33 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is Puffin Express 1-Hour Close Encounter from Reykjavik worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.6 out of 5 across 16 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Reykjavik Sailors.
Reviews(16)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
M
Nice boat ride, didn’t really ‘see’ puffins
Experience was poor because puffins are so small they are really hard to spot. Didn’t feel like I really saw any. Boat ride was beautiful. Naturalist and Irish / Icelandic crew member were friendly. Put life jacket on my grandchildren immediately. Naturalist was interesting and easy to talk with. Captain was rude to 7 year old
M
Foggy weather
Great tour. Laura & the captain did a great job. Very informative. Just too much fog to make it live up to expectations.
R
Amazing seabird safari to the little islands off of Rejkjavik.
Anika was amazing tour guide. Very personable and very knowledgeable on the seabird and marine mammal life of Iceland. Actually saw more puffins (hundreds? thousands?) than they would normally see, floating, flying (some with small fish), and perched by their burrows. This also was during the eclipse. While all cloudy, ot was my first full eclipse, and it got dark and the birds were confused and acting a little crazy. Also saw a lot of black legged kitties, shag cormorants, several gull species, arctic terns, I even spotted a fulmar, a gannet or two, and a couple jaegers.
E
Loved it!!
Long enough to appreciate but short enough to fit into a full day. The crew were marvelous and informative, but the puffins were even better!!
L
Awesome Puffin Experience!!
Excellent event!! The crew was extremely knowledgeable and professional! We also appreciated the information on Puffin’s habitat and habits!
L
Quick trip to see Puffins was perfect!
The boat looks a bit old, but it was exactly what was needed for the quick trip to see Puffins. Nice outside space to sit and some inside if rainy. The staff was funny and had great information about the birds. It was perfect to fit in our departure schedule and not miss the chance to see the birds. We got closer to the island than expected. Great views to see the birds in the water, sky, and land.
Operator response
Hello, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear the tour fit perfectly into your schedule and gave you the chance to experience the puffins up close. It's great to know you enjoyed the views from the boat, the informative and entertaining commentary from our crew, and the opportunity to see the birds both on the island and out at sea. We truly appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back on board for another adventure in the future! Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors Team
M
Easy Puffin viewing…
It was a great way to see many Puffins and other local birds without having to go on a long excursion. The commentary was interesting and funny.
Operator response
Hello, Thank you for your lovely review! We're so pleased to hear you enjoyed the tour and that it was a great way to see puffins and other local seabirds in a short amount of time. It's wonderful to know you found the commentary both informative and entertaining. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on board again soon! Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors Team
J
Many puffins
I saw many puffins! Puffins are very small, and I suggest bringing high powered binoculars. You will get binoculars as part of the tour, yet my binoculars are high powered and allowed me to see so much more. The tour guide was excellent, very sweet, and knowledgeable on puffin behavior.
Operator response
Hello, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed seeing so many puffins and that our guide helped make the experience even more enjoyable with their knowledge and enthusiasm. It's also great to hear your high-powered binoculars gave you an even closer look at these amazing birds in their natural habitat. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board for another adventure in the future! Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors Team
S
Visit to Puffin Island
While this trip was via boat to the island, one had to use binoculars to get up close, visually. I was really hoping to be able to walk (carefully, of course) among them to see them more closely. Perhaps that is not possible without disturbing them. Otherwise, the boat ride was successful.
Operator response
Hello, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the boat trip. We understand that seeing the puffins from the boat may not have been quite as close as you had hoped. To protect the birds and their nesting grounds, visitors are not allowed to walk on the island during the nesting season, so our tours observe the puffins from the water to ensure they are not disturbed. We appreciate your understanding and hope you still enjoyed seeing these wonderful birds in their natural habitat. We hope to welcome you on board again in the future. Best regards, Reykjavik Sailors Team
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from$65
4.6(16) Free cancellation