Puffin Watching Tours
Meet Iceland’s cutest locals on expertly guided puffin tours!
What’s bright, charming, and dressed to impress? Puffins, of course! And there’s no better place to see them than Iceland, the undisputed puffin-watching capital of the world. An astonishing 8 to 10 millions of these cuties nest in the land of fire and ice—that’s 60% of their entire population!
Puffins settle down in Iceland from May to August, which is prime puffin sightseeing season. Each summer, puffins return to Iceland to form nesting colonies that are a delight for birdwatchers and nature lovers. This makes the Nordic country one of the best places in the world to observe these astonishing creatures.
Curious to see one of Iceland’s most beloved birds? Save yourself a seat on the puffin-watching adventure!
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Want to make the most of puffin season? Join a guided tour and get front-row views!
Fun Facts About Atlantic Puffins
Atlantic puffins are exceptional divers, capable of plunging up to 60 meters (200 feet) underwater in pursuit of small fish like herring and sand eels. Their specialized wings function like flippers, allowing them to "fly" through the water with remarkable agility. Puffins’ colorful beaks become especially vivid during the breeding season, turning a bright orange hue that helps attract a mate.
Puffins are also known for their strong pair bonds. They typically mate for life and return to the same nesting burrow each year, often on steep coastal cliffs or grassy islands. Iceland hosts the largest puffin population in the world, with over 8 million puffins visiting the country each summer to breed, making it a prime location for bird watching.
Why Choose Our Puffin Watching Tours?
When it comes to spotting a puffin in Iceland, experience and local knowledge make all the difference. Tour guides are not only passionate about Iceland's sea parrots but also deeply familiar with their behaviors, habitats, and the best viewing areas. Whether you're a birding enthusiast or a first-time visitor, you'll benefit from insights that enrich your understanding of these charming birds and their extraordinary way of life.
Puffin tours in Iceland have an exceptionally high sighting success rate during the mating season, typically from May to mid-August. You’ll be able to observe puffins both in flight and perched on rocky cliffs, sometimes even interacting in their colonies. For photographers and bird enthusiasts, this means unmatched opportunities to capture unforgettable moments. Be sure to bring a good camera to appreciate their vibrant beaks and expressive behaviors up close!
Convenience is key, which is why our partners have multiple departure points, including Reykjavík, the Westman Islands, and South Iceland. This flexibility allows you to make the most of your time in the country without long detours or complicated travel plans. The most popular location in Iceland is Puffin Island, near the capital city. It’s home to around 30,000 of these charming birds during peak summer months!
Our selected tours follow eco-friendly tourism practices that protect both wildlife and the environment. Tour boats follow responsible viewing guidelines, keeping a respectful distance from puffin colonies to avoid disturbing their natural behavior. By choosing these respectfully conducted tours, you’re not only witnessing nature at its best but also supporting sustainable travel and the preservation of Iceland’s incredible biodiversity.
Where to See Puffins in Iceland
Westman Islands
Vestmannaeyjar (The Westman Islands) region is known for having the largest puffin colony in the country. Located just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) off Iceland’s south coast, it’s home to 1.1 millions of these charming sea parrots. This means that one-fifth of the entire puffin population nests on this Nordic jewel! In addition to puffin-watching, visitors to Vestmannaeyjar can also explore dramatic volcanic landscapes formed by the 1973 eruption of Eldfell.
Látrabjarg Cliffs
At 441 meters (1,447 feet) in height and 14 kilometers (8.75 miles) in length, Látrabjarg is one of Iceland’s top bird-watching spots. Towering above the Atlantic Ocean, these dramatic cliffs are home to millions of seabirds during the nesting season. These include puffins, razorbills, guillemots, and fulmars. For travelers willing to make the journey, Látrabjarg provides not only plentiful puffin sightings but also stunning natural scenery.
.jpeg&w=3840&q=75 "Atlantic puffin also know as common puffin is a species of seabird in the auk family. Iceland, Norway, Faroe Islands, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada are known to be large colony of this puffin.")
Dyrhólaey Peninsula
Known as the “Door Hill Island,” Dyrhólaey is a small promontory located on the southern coast of Iceland, near the village of Vík. The name derives from the massive arch-shaped rock, resembling a doorway carved by the relentless force of wind and waves. In summer, the cliffs of Dyrhólaey are a popular nesting area for a variety of birds, including the colorful puffins.
Borgarfjörður Eystri
If an easy and safe place to watch puffins is what you’re after, Borgarfjörður Eystri might be your perfect choice. Somewhere around 10,000 pairs of puffins nest here from mid-April to mid-August, making it a real puffin paradise. Shelter and wooden platforms have been built to allow visitors to get close to the puffins without risk of falling. This setup not only ensures your safety but also helps protect the birds’ fragile habitat.
Reykjavík
If you’re staying in the capital, you don’t have to travel far to see puffins. Just a few minutes away by boat from Reykjavík, “Puffin Island” is home to more than 30,000 of these adorable birds. Along the way, you might also spot other seabirds like Arctic terns and guillemots. A Reykjavík puffin tour visits the island multiple times a day during summer with a 100% sighting guarantee.
Ingólfshöfði Nature Reserve
Located further east on the South Coast is an isolated headland whose cliffs are surrounded by black sand dunes. This makes it a prime location for puffin watching, ideal for those who want to spend time away from large crowds. Here’s the fun part—reaching Ingólfshöfði requires crossing 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) of waters, marshes, and sands in a tractor-drawn hay cart. Alongside puffins, you might also encounter great skua, razorbills, and northern fulmars.
Curious about Iceland’s iconic seabird?
A puffin tour is the best way to see them up close.
Puffin Watching Tours – What to Expect
Puffin tours in Iceland provide an unforgettable way to see these charismatic seabirds up close in their natural habitat. Boat tours are a popular option, taking you near offshore puffin colonies, where you can witness the birds nesting and diving for fish. Land-based tours feature guided hikes to renowned puffin-viewing spots along the coast, with stunning scenery and exceptional wildlife encounters.
Both types of tours are photography-friendly, with plenty of chances to capture the birds in their natural habitat. They double as educational adventures—perfect for nature lovers eager to learn more about Iceland’s beloved seabirds. Expert guides enhance the experience by providing insightful commentary on puffin behavior, breeding patterns, and the conservation efforts that protect them. These tours provide an intimate look at puffin colonies during their peak breeding season.
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