Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Puffin Sightseeing Cruise

This is an easy way to see puffins in Iceland without turning your day into a logistics project. The Akurey Island route is short, guided, and designed for close-up viewing of seabirds along the rocky shoreline.

I love that the tour hands you binoculars for real birdwatching, and you get an expert guide with commentary that helps you spot what matters. One thing to consider is that you will not always get perfect, phone-camera-level closeness, since the boat cannot always position for the tiniest details.

Key Highlights Worth Booking

• Akurey Island circuit with engine-off photo time, so you get quiet moments for pictures and watching
• Loaner binoculars included, but bringing your own can help if you are picky about sharpness
• Small-group feel, with a maximum of 33 travelers
• Multiple departure times from Reykjavik, which makes it easier to fit around your ship or schedule
• Expert naturalist-style guidance, including named guides like Rebekah, Joel, Patricia, and Oscar from past departures
• Coffee served onboard, so you do not have to hunt down a café before or after

Puffin Sightseeing From Reykjavik, Without the All-Day Commitment

This cruise is built for people who want a focused hit of Iceland nature. You start in Reykjavik, hop over to Akurey Island, and spend your time watching puffins and other seabirds instead of traveling for hours first.

The big appeal is the combination of a short ride and expert interpretation. When someone explains what you are seeing, puffins stop looking like random little dots and start making sense as a living colony. Even if you are not a hard-core birder, the guide’s rundown of what to watch for speeds up your excitement.

You should also know the viewing is real, but not magic. Puffins are small, and even when the boat gets close to the shoreline, you often need binoculars to see the details clearly. If you go in expecting a super tight selfie moment, you may feel a little let down.

That said, the overall tone of this outing is “quick, calm, and satisfying.” People call it educational, and they also say it is a nice way to check off a puffin goal without draining the whole day.

From Skarfabakki Harbour to Akurey Island: Timing and How It Feels On Board

Your trip starts at Skarfabakki Harbour (the meeting point shown as 544P+F35, 104 Reykjavík). If you booked pickup from the Skarfabakki Harbour area, you are directed to head for the bus area in the port and watch for a Special Tours minibus.

Once you’re aboard, the cruise to Akurey Island takes about 15 minutes. That might sound short, but it is long enough to settle in, get oriented, and start hearing the guide’s commentary about the area’s flora and fauna.

The island portion is the main event. The boat circles the island outcrop and looks for puffins and other seabirds like Arctic terns. The route matters because puffins use different spots for resting, feeding, and nesting activity, so a circuit gives you more chances than a single stop.

You also get a small but surprisingly meaningful rhythm change. After the circle is complete, the crew silences the engine for a few moments. That quiet time is great for photos, and it is also when the wildlife often feels more “present,” since you are not fighting engine noise.

Most tours are about an hour total. If you are tight on time due to port schedules, that compact timing is a big deal.

Choosing the Right Side of the Boat for Puffin Photos

The tour’s boat is designed for tricky coastal areas, with the goal of cruising close to Akurey’s rocky shoreline. That is exactly what you want in theory, because it gives you more chances to see birds near the surface or perched on the cliffs.

In practice, reviews show one common detail: where you sit affects your view. Some people say the side of the boat (they specifically mention starboard, the right-hand side) gives better photo angles. Others point out that when the boat is occupied by other passengers, a phone camera can end up shooting over heads.

So here is my practical advice: if you care about photos, try to get a seat that faces the island during the best viewing moments. If you are booking during a busier departure, go early to claim your spot near the viewing side.

Sound quality is another factor. A few people report that if you sit farther back, you may miss parts of the guide commentary because the sound system is not always loud enough. If you want the talk as much as the birds, pick seats closer to where you can hear clearly.

Bottom line: the cruise is short, so you want to maximize every minute. That usually means binoculars in hand, phone cameras ready, and a seat that does not force you into awkward angles.

Binoculars and Birdwatching Setup: What You Get, What to Bring

Binoculars are included, which is the smartest part of the whole setup. Puffins are small, and they can look like floating dots at first. Binoculars turn that confusion into “oh, that’s a bird with a face, and it’s doing something.”

That said, not every binocular experience is perfect. Some people say the loaner binoculars are fine for a first look, while others feel the quality could be better and suggest bringing your own if you want crisp detail.

If you have decent binoculars already, bring them. If you do not, use the provided ones anyway. You will still see plenty. The key is using them early, not after you get disappointed.

Another pro tip: watch for puffins in multiple “modes.” You can spot them on the cliffs, but you can also see them floating in the water and flying back and forth. One reason the loop matters is that the colony activity spreads out.

Also, do not ignore the other birds. Arctic terns show up in the same general area, and the guide’s explanations help you tell the differences instead of just reacting to anything with wings.

Wildlife Focus: Puffins, Arctic Terns, and the Colony Activity

Let’s talk about the main reason you are here: puffins. Akurey Island is known for puffin activity, and the cruise is designed to search out the places where you can see them in real ways, not just distant specks.

From the way the tour is described and how people reacted, you should expect puffins to be visible as groups on the island outcrop and also in the water. Some passengers mention seeing puffins flying around the boat, even carrying or heading toward food-related behavior.

The island’s seabird mix is part of the charm. Arctic terns, for example, are called out as a likely sight. The guide’s commentary on the flora and fauna adds a layer beyond “look, bird,” by explaining why the island becomes a feeding and nesting spot.

One seasonal note matters. If you are cruising late in the season, you may see fewer puffins than people see earlier in the year. Still, many departures report enough birds for a great experience even when the season is winding down.

So go into this with the right expectation. You are not touring a zoo. You are observing a living colony that can shift around with wind, visibility, and bird behavior that day.

And when you do spot them, take a breath. Puffin watching can go from “where are they” to “oh wow, there are hundreds” pretty fast once your eyes adjust.

The Guide Experience: Commentary That Makes the Cruise Click

This is one of those tours where the guide is not optional. You are sailing around a rocky island outcrop, and you need context to make sense of what you are seeing.

The onboard guide commentary focuses on the area’s flora and fauna, then narrows into what to look for during the cruise. People repeatedly highlight that the narration is informative, with some guides specifically named in past departures, including Rebekah, Joel, Patricia, and Oscar.

That matters because puffins can be tricky at first glance. The guide helps you track movement and recognize likely spots, which saves time. And since you only have about an hour, saving time is basically priceless.

There is also a small “learn more” tool included. The Special Tours App is available in multiple languages (English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese). Even if you use it just for a quick refresher during the ride, it can help you connect the dots between what the guide says and what you see.

If your top priority is birds plus education, this is the right format. If your priority is only scenery with no interest in wildlife talk, you might feel like you want more time on the water. But for most people, the pace plus narration is exactly what they paid for.

Price and Value: Is $63.51 Worth It?

At about $63.51 per person, this is not a budget activity. But it also is not a long, multi-transfer tour either. The value comes from what is included for the time you spend.

You get:

• A round trip cruise to Akurey Island with a short journey each way
• An expert guide on board
• Binoculars provided for birdwatching
• Coffee served onboard
• A worry-free shore excursion approach with transfers from Skarfabakki Harbour

Food and drinks beyond the coffee are not included, so plan on a snack or drink before or after if you need more than coffee.

Is it worth it? If you want puffins and you care about understanding what you are seeing, it is a strong value. You are paying for speed plus interpretation plus the setup that actually helps you spot small birds.

If your main goal is extreme closeness for phone pictures, it might feel pricey. Several people make the same point: puffins can be seen best with binoculars, and the boat cannot always get close enough for huge, detailed photos.

My advice is simple: treat this as a guided wildlife viewing experience. If that is your goal, the price lines up well with what you get.

Weather Reality: When the Cruise Is Cancelled or Rolled With the Waves

This trip depends on good weather. If conditions are poor, the operator offers an alternate date or a full refund. That is the smart way to handle it because wildlife viewing and safe cruising are both weather-sensitive.

Even on a good day, the North Atlantic can be wet. Pack for spray and cold air, even if Reykjavik looks calm when you start walking. A light waterproof layer and a hat can make this feel much more comfortable.

Photography is also weather-linked. A little drizzle does not ruin the day, but it can make phone camera work tougher. Since puffins are small and you often need binoculars for detail, your best plan is to use binoculars to identify, then use your camera to capture what you see.

The engine-off moment is one of the best times for photos because the boat is quiet. It is also when your eyes can track motion without noise distractions.

If you are traveling at the end of the puffin season, expect variation. Some departures still have plenty to see, but not every day will feel like puffins everywhere. The good news is the guide format helps you find what is active that day.

Who This Puffin Cruise Is For (and Who Might Skip It)

This cruise is ideal for:

• Birders and nature lovers who enjoy short, guided outings
• Families who want a simple plan with a clear payoff
• People who want Reykjavik wildlife without committing a full day
• Anyone who likes the idea of learning why animals are where they are, not just spotting them

It is less ideal if:

• You only care about close-up photos and do not want to use binoculars
• You are extremely sensitive to sound and prefer silent tours, since the guide commentary matters on this one
• You are traveling late in the season and can only accept a certain number of sightings

Group size is capped at 33, so it usually does not feel like a stampede. Still, if you want the best view angles, sit early and aim for the viewing side during the key moments.

Should You Book the Puffin Sightseeing Cruise From Reykjavik?

Yes, if your goal is a short, guided puffin and seabird viewing trip with real birdwatching tools and a compact time commitment. The included binoculars, the expert narration, and the Akurey Island loop are the core reasons this works.

Think twice if you are chasing guaranteed close-up photo results. The boat can cruise near the shoreline, but you should expect that puffins may still be small in your frame. Plan to use binoculars, choose your seat thoughtfully, and go with realistic expectations for the day and the season.

If you do book, show up ready to step into the viewing rhythm. Bring a waterproof layer, consider bringing your own binoculars if you have them, and aim to sit where you can both see the island and hear the guide. That combination turns a one-hour cruise into a genuinely memorable puffin outing.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the cruise?

You meet at Skarfabakki Harbour (shown as 544P+F35, 104 Reykjavík, Iceland).

Is pickup included?

Pickup is offered. Complimentary transfers are only applicable for passengers from Skarfabakki Harbour. Miðbakki is a short walk to the departure point for this tour.

How long is the Puffin Sightseeing Cruise?

The duration is about 1 hour, with about a 15-minute journey to Akurey Island.

What wildlife will I see?

The cruise is designed for puffins and other native seabirds such as Arctic terns.

Are binoculars included?

Yes. Binoculars are provided to use on board.

Is coffee included?

Yes. Coffee is served onboard as you go.

Is there an upper limit to group size?

Yes. The tour has a maximum of 33 travelers.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What if my ship is delayed or already departed?

There is a worry-free shore excursion guarantee. The operator will ensure timely return to the port. If your ship has departed, they will arrange transportation to the next port of call. If you are unable to attend because your ship is delayed, you will be refunded.

What is the cancellation and weather plan?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. If the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.