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Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik

star-4.5189 Reviews
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Reykjavík, Iceland
Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik
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Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik
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From $51.94

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Number of travelers
1 Adult2 Adults3 Adults4 Adults5 Adults6 Adults7 Adults8 Adults9 Adults0 Children1 Child2 Children3 Children4 Children5 Children6 Children7 Children8 Children9 Children0 Infants1 Infant2 Infants3 Infants4 Infants5 Infants6 Infants7 Infants8 Infants9 Infants
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
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Safety measures
icon1 hour  (Approx.)
iconOffered in: English

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Overview

Get up close and personal with puffins on this eco-adventure from Reykjavik. With your local nature guide, step aboard a custom boat that lets you glide right up to Akurey Island's jagged shore and see the adorable animals in their natural habitat. Enjoy engaging commentary about the puffins's biology and behavior from your guide. Use of binoculars for viewing bird life is included.
  • 1-hour puffin express cruise from Reykjavik
  • Experience Icelandic native species and see puffin and other seabirds in their natural habitat
  • Learn interesting facts about seafowls from your knowledgeable guide
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From $51.94

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Expert guide
Binoculars on board
NEW - Special Tours App (available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese)
Gratuities
Food and drinks, unless specified
Hotel transfers (can be added for an additional cost - please contact supplier directly).

Departure Point

Geirsgata 11, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Please make your way to the Special Tours ticket office. There you will check in and meet your guide, who will take everyone to the boat just before the departure time. Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to the departure.

Return Details

Returns to original departure point
Following pickup, head for the shoreline and hop aboard the express boat to Akurey, an island off the coast of Iceland's capital that boasts a healthy population of puffins. You have the choice of five departure times throughout the day to suit your Iceland itinerary.

During your trip, learn from your expert guide about the puffins as well local seabirds, such as northern fulmars, gulls, arctic terns and black guillemots. Warm up with a fresh cup of coffee while watching the sweet seabirds nesting and diving into the sea after their next meal.

Between May and August every year, the puffins nest on the island. The rocky outcroppings and slopes that form protected areas are perfect for hatching and raising young puffins. Riding on a custom-designed boat means that you can get as close as possible to the funny little birds. Use of binoculars on your tour is also included. When you reach the island, you'll circle it a few times before the captain turns off the engines, allowing you to enjoy the bird life in peace. 

Your 1-hour tour ends with drop-off back where you started.
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Hotel pick up: Available to book directly with supplier (extra fees apply)
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
  • OPERATED BY Special Tours Iceland
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Learn more about cancellations.

The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What is the policy on face masks and attendee health during Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik?
A:The policies on face masks and attendee health are:

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas
See all safety measures taken by Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik.
Q:
What is the policy on sanitization during Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik?
A:The policies on sanitization are:

  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
See all safety measures taken by Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik.
Q:
What measures are being taken to ensure staff health & safety during Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik?
A:The policies on staff health & safety are:

  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
See all safety measures taken by Puffin Express Cruise from Reykjavik.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

  • "I suggest you dress warmly so you can stay outside and see more puffins!" See review

Reviews

4.5
star-4.5
189 Reviews
5 stars
119
4 stars
36
3 stars
24
2 stars
2
1 star
8

Reviews by Viator travelers

Showing 1-10 of 189 reviews
star-3
Hannah was wonderful. But...
Kevin_C
, Aug 2021
Hannah was wonderful. But there just weren’t enough Puffins to justify the excursion. My friends and I went to Reynisfjara Beach the next day and the basalt columns were teeming with Puffins.
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2021
Thank you for your feedback and review. We're happy to pass the compliments along to your guide, Hanna, but we're sorry to hear that there were not as many puffins as you'd like. The nesting colony where we sail to has roughly 30,000 individuals. The number of puffins we see on each tour can vary widely depending on when they are feeding, in the nests with the eggs or chicks, etc. The same is true for puffins along the coast of Iceland - some days some locations have better sightings than others. This is part of working with any kind of wild life :) Thank you for sailing with us, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland. Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-2
Not for mid August
gmp
, Aug 2021
The crew was very nice but the tour should have been canceled based off the tours earlier in the day. They were aware the birds had left.
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2021
Thank you for taking the time to provide us with feedback - we're sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy your puffin express tour. We run the scheduled tours each year until August 20th, and then add additional departures on a day-by-day basis until the puffins have left their nesting islands. If you did not see any puffins on your tour we are happy to offer a refund - please contact us and we will look into this for you. Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
Great Puffin Cruise
Margaret_C
, Aug 2021
Great tour to see these amazing birds. Good and helpful crew. Really helpful check in staff. Bring your camera. Worth the extra equipment to capture the moments.
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed your Puffin Express tour with us, and we will pass the compliments along to our crew. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland. Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
... MoreLess
star-5
Fun experience!
Kristen_L
, Aug 2021
We had a lot of great puffin sightings. We visited near two different islands and could see puffins on land, in the water, and flying. Jonathan was a really great guide!
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icon Response from Host , Aug 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad that you enjoyed your Puffin Express tour with us and we will pass the compliments along to your guide, Jonathan. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
Blew me away
Amanda_W
, Aug 2021
The number of puffins we saw. The stories our guides told and how comfortable, friendly, and knowledgeable our guides were.
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2021
Thank you so much for your review! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your Puffin Express tour with us, and we will pass the compliments along to the guide and captain. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-4
Definitely saw lots of puffins
MaryP_B
, Aug 2021
We definitely saw a lot of puffins, and the weather was beautiful for a boat ride. But our boat was a little crowded to really get comfortable for good photo taking.
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad that you enjoyed your Puffin Express tour with us. We will pass your comments along to our team for their preparations for next summer's season. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland. Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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star-5
Perfect Puffin Peeping
Kelly_B
, Aug 2021
We had a gorgeous day for the short 20 min boat ride to the island where there were thousands of puffins. It was fun to watch them and try to zoom in to take good pics on a digital point & shoot camera. We actually got great pics! The guide shared interesting information on puffins and some of the sights in the harbor. Perfect way to spend an hour!
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icon Response from Host , Sep 2021
Thank you for your review! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your Puffin Express tour with us, and we will pass the kind words along to our team. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours, and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland. Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
... MoreLess
star-5
Perfect quick puffin tour!
Stacey_H
, Jul 2021
The tour was organized and the boat went right to an island where the puffin were. We saw so many puffin! Excellent experience
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icon Response from Host , Aug 2021
Thank you for your review! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us and will pass the compliments along to our staff. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
... MoreLess
star-4
So many puffins!
Kathie_M
, Jul 2021
Perfect size boat to get right up to the island and just the right amount of time - an hour - to watch all the action. Hundreds of puffins in the water, overhead, and hopping about on shore. Bring binoculars for even better views.
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icon Response from Host , Aug 2021
Thank you for the review! We're glad that you enjoyed your Puffin Express tour with us - the puffins are only in Iceland for their summer breeding season, so we love being able to sail out to see them while they are here. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
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1 traveler found this review helpful
star-5
Puffins Rock!
Susan_B
, Jul 2021
The tour guide, Alberto was fabulous. Not only personable and witty but very knowledgeable! I will recommend this tour to friends.
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icon Response from Host , Aug 2021
Thank you for your review! We're glad that you enjoyed your tour with us to see the puffins and we will pass the compliments along to Alberto. Thank you for sailing with Special Tours and we hope that you enjoyed the rest of your stay in Iceland! Kind regards, Special Tours Crew
... MoreLess

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