Reykjavik Premium Puffin tour | Close Up and Personal

This tour is interesting because it uses a fast RIB to reach puffin islands quickly, so you spend less time commuting and more time spotting seabirds. I like the small group cap of 12, which keeps the experience feeling personal and controlled.

I also like the warm flotation suit setup. It means you can stay focused on scanning cliffs and water instead of juggling your own cold-weather layers.

One possible drawback is that the RIB ride can feel rough if the wind picks up. If you get seasick easily, plan ahead and keep a relaxed attitude about bumpy moments.

Key Things I’d Watch For on This Puffin Tour

• RIB closeness, with rules: You get close to the islands, but you stay at a respectful distance around nesting areas.
• Small group of 12: More attention from the crew and a calmer pace when puffins are active.
• Warm flotation suit and safety kit: Built for Icelandic wind and wet spray, not for comfort shoes and light jackets.
• Multiple chances to spot birds: You can see huge numbers, including puffins in the water at some viewing points.
• Binocular help, plus a good tip: Binoculars are provided, but many people still bring their own for sharper detail.
• Guides share photos: Some guides share pictures taken with a big camera at the end, which helps when phone photos fail.

Reykjavik Puffin Viewing That Actually Fits the Day

In Reykjavik, you can get puffin time without turning your whole day into a bus tour. This one is designed to be quick, so you can still do the classic Reykjavik things the same day, like walking the harbor area or grabbing a warm drink between sightseeing stops.

The biggest reason this works is the transportation method. A RIB lets the crew cover distance fast and line up viewing so you do not waste the hour traveling around.

The RIB Ride, Timing, and What 1 Hour Feels Like

This is an about 1 hour experience, with a main viewing stop at Lundey that runs about 40 minutes. The rest of your time is split between the boat ride and positioning for the best bird activity.

The ride style is fast and can be bouncy. In reviews, I saw a mix: people who expected a rougher trip were pleasantly surprised, and others still noted wind-driven chop. Either way, the key is knowing what kind of water day you are getting, because that matters more than the booking description.

Also, this is not a harbor cruise where you sit back and watch from a gentle shoreline. You will likely be shifting your attention from cliffs to water quickly, because puffins pop up where fish activity is happening.

Lundey Puffin Stop: What You Should Look For

Lundey is the main puffin viewing highlight, and the goal is simple: spot puffins in their natural rhythm near nesting cliffs. The birds are small, quick, and easy to miss when you are zooming in only with your phone.

Here is what helps your spotting game. Watch for movement at the edge of the cliffs, then scan the water below, because puffins can be swimming and diving close to the boat. On active days, you can see hundreds, and sometimes even thousands depending on how many birds are using the water routes.

One practical reality: it is very hard to get perfect close photos with a phone on a rocking boat. A good guide can help you aim and time your shots, but the motion is real.

Can You Step Onto the Islands?

No. You stay on the boat and observe from the water. The whole point is staying far enough to avoid disturbing nesting grounds, even while the crew positions you as closely as safely possible.

So think of this as close viewing from water, not a land walk. If you were hoping for a puffin hike or island landing, you will be disappointed.

Gear, Safety, and Why Iceland Wind Feels Different

This tour includes the practical stuff that makes cold tolerable: a warm flotation suit, safety equipment, and gear for your eyes. People consistently mention how much the suit and layered protection help, especially when spray and wind hit.

You might also get binoculars on board. In one case, the provided binoculars were not great, and the advice was clear: bring your own if you care about real detail. In other experiences, the binoculars and eye gear were described as useful, so at minimum, do not plan on being without visual support.

What I like about the approach is that the safety style is not treated as optional. Guests reported feeling safe throughout, and the crew runs the boat in a way that keeps things steady enough for viewing.

Guides and the Value of Real Bird Talk

The guides are a big part of the payoff. You will get live commentary, not just a quick spiel, and the talk connects what you see with how puffins behave.

In past departures, I saw names tied to the experience such as Knute, Adam, Naina, Tarzan, and Andy. There is also mention of Sara in the office helping with special transport requests for a disability, which suggests the team pays attention to individual needs when possible.

If you are the type who wants your vacation photos to come with context, this is your lane. When the guide explains feeding and diving behavior, it becomes easier to predict where birds will pop up next.

The Photo Reality: Phones vs. Big Cameras

You should treat phone photos as a bonus, not a guarantee. Puffins are small and fast, and the boat can move just enough to make framing tough.

A very helpful touch is that some guides share photos taken with a big lens at the end. That does not replace your own shots, but it gives you a stronger chance of taking home at least a few crisp images, even if your hands were busy holding onto your seat and your phone.

Price and Value: Is $85 a Good Deal?

At $85 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see puffins from Reykjavik. But it is also not trying to be. You are paying for three things that actually cost money: the RIB boat, the small group limit, and the gear.

The value case is strongest if you care about closeness and efficiency. A quick hour with a capped group means you can maximize your sightseeing time, and you get the practical warmth gear without needing to buy Iceland-specific outerwear.

It becomes a weaker value if you expected guaranteed eye-level proximity to the nesting cliffs, because the birds are still observed from a respectful distance. Some people felt the closeness was less than the headline promises, even though the tour does move you beyond the classic-style viewing.

So I see it like this. If you want the best shot at seeing lots of puffins in a short time, this price can make sense. If you want guaranteed postcard photos at arm’s length, you might be happier with a different approach or with more flexible expectations.

Who This Tour Fits Best (and Who Might Want a Different Plan)

This tour fits best if you are:

• Comfortable with a short boat ride in variable weather
• Interested in seabird behavior, not just the idea of puffins
• Able to handle moderate physical movement and standing around on a boat deck
• Traveling with kids 10 years and up, since the minimum age is 10 years or 145 cm

It might not fit as well if you:

• Are very sensitive to motion or wind-driven chop
• Need a perfectly smooth ride
• Want island landings, because you stay on the boat

If you are on a tight Reykjavik day schedule, the quick format is a real advantage.

Getting the Most Out of Your Puffin Spotting

Here are practical tips that come straight from how people succeed on the water.

Bring your own binoculars if you want sharper detail. If you rely only on provided binoculars, you might get lucky, but the quality can vary.

Be ready to look both up and down. Puffins are not only perched. They swim, dive, and fly through the water area in active bursts, which is why scanning for movement matters more than locking onto one cliff ledge.

Dress for wet spray even if the day looks calm on land. The suit helps, but wind still changes how your body feels. Wear what you would wear for a cold, windy shoreline walk plus the extra layers you can fit under the flotation suit.

Plan for phone limitations. Instead of fighting your camera the whole time, take shorter bursts when puffins are visible, then switch back to just watching for behavior.

Logistics in Plain English: Where You Go and What You Get

You meet at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you will want to plan how you get there using public transportation or a short taxi ride. The meeting location is described as near public transportation, which makes it easier if you are juggling other Reykjavik stops.

You get a mobile ticket, and the tour is offered in English. There is also a maximum of 12 travelers, which is part of why the experience stays manageable.

Should You Book the Reykjavik Premium Puffin Tour?

I would book this tour if you want the best chance of seeing lots of puffins in a short window from Reykjavik, and you are happy with close viewing from water rather than stepping onto islands. The small group size, the warm flotation suits, and the guided bird talk add up to strong value for an hour.

I would hesitate if you are easily seasick or you need a calm, gentle ride. I would also temper expectations if your mental picture is that puffins will be right next to the boat for photos every minute, because nesting rules and real bird behavior limit how close you can be.

If you are willing to dress warm, scan smart, and accept that puffins are fast little streaks, this tour can deliver the kind of wildlife moment that feels genuinely Iceland.

FAQ

What is the duration of the Premium Puffin tour?

The tour runs for about 1 hour. The main puffin viewing stop at Lundey lasts about 40 minutes, with the rest of the time spent on the RIB ride and positioning.

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Elding Whale Watching, Ægisgarður 5c, 101 Reykjavík. It also ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people are on the tour?

The group is capped at a maximum of 12 travelers.

What should I bring for the puffin viewing?

You should dress for cold and wet conditions. Binoculars can help a lot, and some people recommend bringing your own since phone photography can be difficult from a moving boat.

Are snacks included?

No. Snacks are not included.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What age is the minimum for this tour?

The minimum age is 10 years, or 145 cm.

Will the boat ride be rough?

It can be rough when wind and waves are stronger because it is a RIB. Some people found it less rough than they feared, but you should be ready for some chop.

Is this tour dependent on weather?

Yes. The experience requires good weather, and if it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation rule?

You can cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience starts, the amount paid will not be refunded.