Reykjavik: Puffin Watching Tour

Puffins up close, without a long drive. This Reykjavik puffin watching tour by RIB takes you fast across Faxafloi Bay to nesting islands and sea cliffs, where you can watch puffins dive, fly, and feed. I liked the RIB proximity to the birds and I loved how the guide keeps the trip practical with clear, on-the-water explanations of what you are seeing. The one catch is that the ride is open air and can feel choppy, so it is not the best fit if rough water makes you nervous or if you have mobility or back issues.

You meet at the Whale Safari office in Reykjavik Old Harbour, get a quick safety briefing, then pull on provided coveralls before you take hold of the grab rail. From there it is a short, focused wildlife cruise, with binoculars included, and plenty of chances to spot puffins plus other seabirds like gannets, auks, and Arctic terns.

Key highlights worth knowing

• RIB boat gets you closer than standard boats, helping you see nesting activity and flight patterns clearly
• Coveralls and safety gear are provided, so you can focus on watching instead of shopping for Iceland layers
• Expert captain and wildlife guide commentary turns random bird spotting into real understanding
• Faxafloi Bay wildlife mix often includes gannets, auks, fulmars, and Arctic terns alongside puffins
• Binoculars included, which matters when the birds are active on cliffs and just offshore

Meeting Whale Safari in Reykjavik Old Harbour

This is one of those Reykjavik tours that fits neatly into your itinerary. You do not need a complicated day plan, you simply make your own way to the Whale Safari office in Reykjavik Old Harbour in the early morning. From the port area, everything is easy to find on foot if you are staying nearby.

Once you arrive, staff get you moving quickly. Expect a short safety briefing and then a practical setup moment: coveralls on, life preserver handled, and a clear reminder on how to board and hold steady on the RIB. One helpful thing: this is the kind of operation where the team seems used to keeping first-timers calm, even if you are not used to fast, open boats.

If you hate being rushed, show up early anyway. A few reviews mention waiting times affecting how long you spend out at the islands, and that is just normal at the harbor when boats are staged and ready.

Suit Up: Staying Warm on a Fast Open-Air RIB

The single biggest comfort upgrade is the provided coveralls. Iceland wind can cut straight through you, even when the day feels bright. These overalls are designed for sea conditions, and they help a lot on both the trip out and the ride back.

Along with the coveralls, you get all necessary safety equipment. You also get binoculars, which is a big deal on a short tour. A RIB ride moves fast, and birds can be on cliffs, inlets, or just offshore where they are harder to spot with only the naked eye.

Practical tip from people who have done this: treat your phone like an item you need to secure. There are Velcro pockets in the suits, and keeping your phone there helps during the bumpy moments so it does not end up in the water. If you plan to shoot lots of photos, you will do better with a steady grip and quick bursts, not long standing shots while the boat rocks.

The 1-Hour RIB Ride Across Faxafloi Bay

Once you leave Reykjavik Old Harbour, the trip becomes half wildlife cruise and half motion experience. The RIB zips out over the ice-cold waters of Faxafloi Bay, and that speed is exactly why this tour works. On a slower vessel, you might spend more time far from the islands. Here, the boat can reposition faster to give you the best viewing angles.

Your captain drives with stability in mind. Reviews often describe the boat ride as fun, and many people say they felt safe the whole time. That said, it is still an open-air RIB, so if you are sensitive to motion, come prepared. Hold the grab rail as instructed, and keep your weight planted instead of leaning and twisting around.

As you cruise, keep your eyes up and out, not only at the water surface. Reviews mention seeing puffins flying around the boat and also other sea birds in the bay. The guide calls out likely species as you go, including gannets and Arctic terns, and you may also spot auks and fulmars depending on where the boat ends up.

One detail that can affect timing: the tour is listed as 1 hour, but at least one guest noted a shorter actual ride due to waiting for the boat. So plan your day with a bit of buffer. The best part is that even with small timing shifts, the tour still feels tightly packed and worth it.

Lundey Island and nearby cliffs: where nesting happens

The heart of this Reykjavik puffin tour is the chance to see puffins where they actually do their work. Puffins nest in Iceland during the warmer months, roughly from May to August. When conditions line up, you can watch them moving between burrows and feeding areas, plus you get close views of seabirds using rocky cliff edges and inlets.

Many sightings focus around Lundey Island and nearby sea cliffs and islands in Faxafloi Bay. The main goal is viewing on the nesting side, not just puffins floating in open water far away. When you get a good approach, you can see puffins in multiple modes in a short time window: perched or roosting, flying overhead, and diving into the water.

You may also notice the birds carrying fish. A few reviews describe puffins carrying capelin fish, which gives you a real sense of how busy the colony is. And if you catch a lull between action bursts, you can still enjoy the scenery of sea cliffs and rocky islets while scanning for the next bird movement.

The other upside of getting close to nesting habitat is that it changes what you learn. With puffins, you are not just spotting a cute bird. You start seeing how the colony works: flight paths, feeding cycles, and how quickly they respond if something draws attention.

What the guide teaches you while you watch

A good wildlife cruise is all about turning observation into understanding. Here, the captain and wildlife guide do exactly that. The commentary is meant to guide your eyes, not drown you in facts.

Expect explanations of puffin behavior and diet, along with how they use nesting areas. You will hear about their nesting routines and why the colony is so active during the season. The guide also points out other seabirds you might spot, like gannets, auks, and Arctic terns, so you can avoid the common feeling of seeing random birds and not knowing what they are.

Guide names you might encounter include Anna and Maria, and some trips mention Megan, Daniel, and other staff by name. Even if you do not get the same team, the style seems consistent: clear, friendly, and focused on helping you watch better.

One more practical bonus that people mention: some guides take photos with more reach or better angles and share them afterward by email. That is not listed as a strict universal inclusion, but it does show up often enough that it is worth asking on the day if they offer it for your departure.

Photos and binoculars: getting the shot without fighting the boat

You can absolutely photograph puffins on this tour, but manage expectations. The RIB’s speed and the birds’ movement mean your best images are usually quick and planned, not slow and perfect.

Binoculars are included, and they help you spot activity before you aim your camera. If you are using a phone, remember that zooming while the boat moves can be tricky. One guest specifically warned that it can be hard to get a good cell phone picture because you are zooming and the zodiac ride goes up and down. The fix is simple: secure your phone in the suit pocket, take bursts when the boat steadies, and rely on binoculars for composition.

Also, puffins can be sensitive. Multiple reviews mention that getting close is not the same as getting guaranteed close enough to see every feather detail. If puffins fly off, that does not mean you failed, it means they reacted normally. This is wildlife viewing, not a zoo experience.

If you want higher odds for strong photos, use the binoculars to track movement, then shoot only when the bird is doing something obvious, like flying across your line of sight or diving. Do not try to photograph every moment. Pick the moments that show behavior.

How long you spend watching, and why 1 hour is a smart length

This tour is built for a short time commitment, which is great in Reykjavik when the weather can change fast. The cruise is listed as 1 hour, and the idea is that you get out to the islands, watch nesting activity and bird behavior, then return to Reykjavik harbour at the end.

In practice, the viewing time can shift a bit depending on conditions and harbor timing. One review noted the actual time on the trip felt closer to 50 minutes due to waiting, which is worth keeping in mind. Still, the trip is long enough to see plenty of birds when conditions are good.

Why the short duration matters:

• You are less likely to burn a whole morning if the weather turns.
• The RIB ride keeps energy high, so you stay focused on spotting rather than waiting.
• You can pair this with other Reykjavik activities without a stressful schedule.

If you only have a day or two in the city and you want puffins without a long drive, this length is a real advantage.

Price and value: is $101 worth a RIB puffin cruise?

At $101 per person, this is not a budget activity. But it is also not just a ticket to sit somewhere and hope. You are paying for a specific experience: a RIB boat that can move quickly and position you for close wildlife viewing, plus the included gear and the guided interpretation.

Here is what you get for the price:

• Professional captain and wildlife guide
• Coveralls to keep you warm and dry enough to enjoy the ride
• All necessary safety equipment
• Binoculars

When you weigh those inclusions, the cost starts to make more sense. You do not have to rent gear or spend time locating it in advance. And since the trip is only about an hour, the value comes from efficiency: it tries to deliver a strong puffin experience without turning into a half-day expedition.

One practical note: Iceland prices are often high, and wildlife tours can be especially priced because of fuel, boats, and guide staffing. Still, multiple reviews describe it as excellent value for money and highlight close viewing and good organization.

Who should book this Reykjavik puffin tour by RIB

This tour fits best if you:

• Want a fast, close-up way to see puffins in Faxafloi Bay
• Like short guided outings that teach you something while you watch
• Can dress for wind and cold, with comfortable closed-toe shoes and sports shoes

It is not suitable for:

• Children under 10 years
• Pregnant women
• People with back problems
• People with mobility impairments
• People under 4 ft 8 in, which is 145 cm

If you are nervous about motion, you may still find it manageable with the coveralls and careful seating, but be honest with yourself. One older guest mentioned feeling a bit nervous about the ride because it slams onto the water repeatedly. That is not an indictment of the operator, it is a reminder that an RIB is a different ride type than a calm cruise.

Weather, season timing, and what affects your puffin odds

Even with an excellent boat and guide, puffin viewing depends on conditions. Puffins nest between May and August, so timing matters. One guest did this near the end of the season and noted the colony was thinned out, even though they still saw puffins.

You can control your part of the equation:

• Wear warm clothing, not just a jacket
• Use closed-toe shoes and sports shoes
• Dress for wind and spray, since the ride is open air

And accept the basic wildlife rule: puffins may not hold still at the exact moment you want. If they lift off, they are doing what they do when they sense attention.

The best mindset is simple: show up ready for short bursts of action and plenty of bird behavior, not a single guaranteed perfect photo moment.

Should you book this puffin watching RIB tour?

Book this tour if you want a short, guided, close-view puffin experience from Reykjavik. It is especially smart if you are staying in the city, you want to see puffins in a real nesting habitat, and you appreciate that coveralls, safety gear, and binoculars are included.

Consider a different plan if you are not comfortable with a bouncy open-air ride, or if any of the listed non-suitability factors apply, like back problems or pregnancy. Also keep in mind that if you go late in the season, the colony may be less crowded, which can affect how many puffins you see.

If you are flexible on what the birds do and focus on behavior rather than perfect proximity, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the Reykjavik puffin watching RIB tour?

Meet at the Whale Safari office in Reykjavik Old Harbour.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. You make your own way to the meeting point, and the tour ends back at Reykjavik harbour.

How long is the tour?

The duration is listed as 1 hour. Availability and starting times vary.

What birds can I expect to see besides puffins?

The tour highlights mention gannets, auks, fulmars, and Arctic terns, along with puffins.

What’s included in the price?

You get a professional captain and wildlife guide, coveralls, all necessary safety equipment, and binoculars.

What should I bring or wear?

Bring warm clothing. Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes, ideally sports shoes.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

Is luggage allowed?

No luggage or large bags are allowed.

Who is this tour not suitable for?

It is not suitable for children under 10, pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, and people under 145 cm.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.