Reykjavik Shore Excursion: Puffin Sightseeing Cruise

Puffins make a short boat ride memorable. This one-hour cruise from Reykjavik takes you across the harbor to Akurey Island, where puffins gather on the water, in flight, and along the rocky shore. I like the loaner binoculars and the small boat, which can approach the island more closely than a larger vessel. The guides, including Joel, Patricia, Oscar, and Rebekah, have earned praise for lively, useful commentary.

The main catch is distance. You may see many puffins but still need binoculars to appreciate them, and the boat’s layout can make one side better than the other for photographs. Add changing weather, possible sound-system trouble, and a few pickup complaints, and this is a pleasant wildlife outing rather than a guaranteed close-up photo session.

Key points before you book

• Akurey Island is the focus: The boat circles the island’s rocky edge while you look for puffins, Arctic terns, and other seabirds.
• The tour lasts about one hour: Around 15 minutes is spent reaching the island, followed by the island circuit and the return to Reykjavik.
• Binoculars are supplied: They help, but some visitors found the loaner pairs less sharp than personal binoculars.
• Small boats have benefits and limits: A shallow-draft sightseeing boat can reach tricky areas, though sightlines and seating matter.
• Season changes the experience: Late in the season, fewer puffins may be present, while earlier departures can offer a quieter boat.
• Cruise passengers get a safety net: Transfers from Skarfabakki Harbour are included, and the operator offers a worry-free shore-excursion guarantee.

Reaching Akurey Island from Reykjavik Harbour

The tour begins at Skarfabakki Harbour, the main cruise port listed for the excursion. If you are arriving there, look for the Special Tours minibus at the bus area. You are asked to be ready and watching for it, which matters because pickup is one part of this experience that demands attention.

Complimentary transfers apply to passengers at Skarfabakki Harbour. If your ship uses Miðbakki instead, the departure point is only a short walk away, and the included transfer does not apply. Check your dock before setting out, especially if your ship’s arrival plans change.

Once you reach the operator’s office and boat area, the outing moves quickly. One useful detail is the office toilet, which gives you a last chance before boarding. A few people have praised the company for responding promptly to pickup questions, and one especially helpful account describes the crew holding the boat for a few extra minutes after a passenger missed the shuttle and arrived by taxi.

Still, do not treat that as a promise. Pickup confusion has also caused missed departures. Keep your confirmation details handy, arrive early, and ask clearly where the minibus will meet you. A short tour leaves little room to recover from a late start.

The boat ride to Akurey takes about 15 minutes. During this stretch, the guide talks about the local flora and fauna. It is not just dead time on the way to the birds, since the commentary helps you understand what you are looking at once the island comes into view.

Circling Akurey Island for puffins and seabirds

Akurey is a small island outcrop near Reykjavik, with a rocky shore that serves as a bird-watching site. The boat circles the island rather than landing, keeping the outing focused on viewing wildlife from the water.

Puffins are the stars, but they are not the only birds to watch for. Arctic terns and other native seabirds may appear around the island. The best moments can come when puffins are not sitting on the rock, but flying past the boat, floating nearby, or returning with fish for their young.

The small sightseeing boat is designed to reach awkward areas and run close to the rocky shoreline. That does not mean it reaches the birds at arm’s length. Environmental limits and the need to protect the island keep the boat at a respectful distance, so your experience depends on your expectations.

Some outings have produced scenes of puffins flying over the water and moving around the island in large numbers. At other times, the birds have looked tiny, especially in wet weather or when the boat cannot get close. Both versions are possible. This is a genuine wild-bird trip, not a staged animal encounter.

The boat’s position also affects your view. One account found the starboard, or right, side much better for photographs, with the port side facing the island for only a brief period during the turn back to the harbor. That may not happen on every departure, but it is a good reason to think about your seat.

If you care most about seeing the birds, use the binoculars and keep watching the water as well as the island. If you care most about taking photographs, bring a camera with a useful zoom if you have one. A standard phone can record the outing, but it may not show much detail when the puffins are distant.

What the guide adds to the short cruise

The guide can make or break a one-hour wildlife tour. There is not much time, and the boat ride itself is simple. Good commentary turns a quick circuit into a lesson in puffin behavior and local bird life.

Rebekah has been praised for clear English and a strong command of the subject. Joel has been described as warm, funny, and especially good at pointing out unusual birds. Oscar and Patricia also received strong praise for entertaining and informative talks.

I would book this with the guide in mind, not just the birds. Puffins can sit quietly and look small, while a good narrator explains why they are there, what they are doing, and which other birds deserve your attention. Several accounts describe the commentary as a major part of the enjoyment.

The sound system is a weak point on some trips. One person sitting at the back heard almost nothing, while another found that the guide’s voice became softer as the cruise went on. The boat’s engine and wind can also make listening harder. If the guide begins speaking, move closer if you can, and do not assume every seat has equal sound.

There is a useful balance here. The tour can be light and family-friendly, with guides who keep children engaged, but the amount of bird information may vary. Some outings have offered an excellent naturalist-style talk, while others have felt brief and perfunctory.

A quiet pause with the engine off

After the boat completes its circuit, the crew may shut off the engine for a few calm moments. This pause gives you time to look, take photographs, and enjoy the harbor surroundings without the constant vibration of the motor.

It is a small feature, but I like its place in the itinerary. The cruise is short and focused, so a quiet pause helps you slow down instead of rushing from one viewing angle to the next. It also gives the boat a better chance to sit still while you scan for birds on the water.

Coffee is served on board during the return journey. Food and other drinks are not included, so think of the coffee as a modest comfort rather than a meal. The outing is too short to need a full catering service, but you should eat beforehand if you are coming straight from a ship excursion schedule.

The return to Reykjavik completes the approximate one-hour outing. Remember that the stated duration begins with the activity’s departure process, not a full hour spent beside Akurey Island. By the time you leave the office, board, reach the island, circle it, pause, and return, the actual bird-viewing portion is much shorter.

That is normal for a harbor wildlife trip, but it matters when you compare the price with longer excursions.

How much puffin viewing can you expect?

The honest answer is that the number and visibility of puffins change. Some trips have seen birds in the water, on the island, around burrows, and flying close to the boat. One especially enthusiastic account described puffins everywhere, with birds passing overhead and carrying fish.

Other outings have produced fewer birds, especially late in the season. A final departure of the season still found groups of puffins on the cliffs and in the water, but the timing made a difference. Another outing had enough birds to enjoy, though not enough for close photographs.

The reviews give you a useful rule: the season matters, but weather matters too. Calm conditions can make viewing easier, while wet weather can reduce the pleasure of standing outside with binoculars. A weather-related cancellation is possible, and the company may offer a new date or a full refund.

Early departures may help with crowd levels. One person found an earlier time quieter and enjoyed seeing puffins looking for breakfast. That does not guarantee better wildlife, but it can improve your chance of an unobstructed view and a calmer ride.

Do not book this if your main goal is a guaranteed close portrait of a puffin. Book it if you want a reasonable chance to see wild puffins in their setting, with a guide explaining the birds and the island.

Boat size, seating, and binoculars

The maximum group size is 33 people. That is not a huge group, but a small boat can feel crowded when everyone moves toward one side for a sighting. A few people found the boat comfortable because it carried fewer people than larger vessels, while another felt that a group of 31 made viewing difficult.

A shallow-draft boat is useful here. It can approach the island’s rocky edge more closely than a deeper or larger vessel, and the captain can work around areas that would be harder for a big boat. The tradeoff is less room and more competition for the best sightline.

Binoculars are included for use on board. They are important, not decorative. Puffins may be clearly visible as birds but too far away for you to distinguish their markings with the naked eye.

The quality of the loaner binoculars may vary. One account found them poor and advised bringing a personal pair. The operator’s information says binoculars are provided, but if you already own compact binoculars, pack them. That is the simplest way to improve the experience.

You do not need specialist birding gear to take the trip. Most people can participate, and the activity is short. But you should dress for an open-water boat ride and expect that conditions can be wet. The provided information does not promise a specific seating arrangement, so arrive early and listen to crew instructions rather than assuming one side will always be best.

Is $63.51 a fair price?

At $63.51 per person, this is not a cheap harbor ride. The price includes the boat trip, an expert guide, loaner binoculars, coffee, and round-trip transfers from Skarfabakki Harbour. It also includes the reassurance of the shore-excursion guarantee, which has real value when you are traveling by cruise ship.

The value depends on what you want from the hour. For a birder who enjoys learning about puffins and other seabirds, the guide and binoculars make the cost easier to justify. For someone expecting a long stay close to the island or professional-quality photographs, the price may feel high.

The included cruise-port transfer is useful, especially if walking from the ship would be difficult. The operator’s app is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese, which may help with general tour information, though the live tour itself is offered in English.

I would compare this cost with your larger Iceland budget, not just with the length of the ride. Reykjavik activities can be expensive, and this one gives you a focused wildlife experience without taking half a day. The short duration also works well for a busy port stop.

The shore-excursion guarantee and practical cautions

Special Tours offers a worry-free shore-excursion guarantee for this activity. If the ship has departed in the rare event that the tour causes you to miss it, transportation to the next port of call will be arranged. If a ship delay means you cannot attend, the payment will be refunded under the stated terms.

That policy does not remove the need to be punctual. Pickup errors have happened, so make the meeting point your responsibility. Be at the bus area at Skarfabakki and watch for the Special Tours minibus. If you are at Miðbakki, walk to the departure point instead of waiting for the included transfer.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel it, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. Normal cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time, but changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Life jackets are another point to clarify before boarding. One account criticized the lack of a required life jacket, but the supplied information does not explain the operator’s safety procedure. Follow all crew instructions and ask if you have concerns.

Who will enjoy this Reykjavik cruise?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Birders who want puffins without leaving Reykjavik for a full-day excursion
• Nature lovers who enjoy a short boat trip and live interpretation
• Families looking for a manageable, kid-friendly activity
• Cruise passengers who want a port outing with a return guarantee
• Photographers who bring binoculars or a camera with a strong zoom
• Anyone checking off puffins as an Iceland goal, while accepting that the birds may be distant

I would be more cautious if you dislike cold or wet boat rides, need guaranteed close-up photographs, or have only one possible departure and cannot tolerate a weather change. The trip is also less appealing if you want a long, detailed birding session. At about an hour, it is a compact introduction.

Should you book the Puffin Sightseeing Cruise?

Book it if you want a short, accessible chance to see wild puffins near Reykjavik, especially during a cruise stop. The best outings combine large numbers of birds, calm water, a sharp guide, and a captain who finds a good viewing angle. The experience can be wonderfully simple: puffins floating nearby, birds crossing the sky, and a guide explaining what you are seeing.

Go in with realistic expectations. Akurey is viewed from the boat, puffins may be small, and your side of the boat can affect photographs. Choose an earlier departure if your schedule allows, bring your own binoculars if you have them, arrive early for pickup, and keep the weather and season in mind.

For many people, that is enough. Puffins are special because they are wild, quick, and not always cooperative. This cruise gives you a fair chance to meet them on their terms.

FAQ

Where does the Puffin Sightseeing Cruise start?

The tour starts at Skarfabakki Harbour, 544P+F35, 104 Reykjavik, Iceland.

Is pickup included from the cruise port?

Round-trip transfers are included for passengers arriving at Skarfabakki Harbour. You should wait at the port bus area and look for a Special Tours minibus.

Does pickup apply at Miðbakki Harbour?

No. Complimentary transfers apply only to Skarfabakki Harbour. Miðbakki is described as a very short walk from the departure point.

How long does the cruise last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour. The journey to Akurey Island takes about 15 minutes, followed by the island circuit and the return to Reykjavik.

Are binoculars supplied?

Yes. Binoculars are available to use on board. You may still prefer to bring your own because the quality of the loaner pairs can vary.

Which birds might I see?

The cruise focuses on puffins, and you may also see Arctic terns and other native seabirds around Akurey Island.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The live tour is offered in English. The Special Tours App is available in English, German, French, Spanish, and Chinese.

What happens if bad weather cancels the cruise?

If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.