Puffins near Reykjavik hit fast. This RIB speedboat puffin tour gets you to Lundey and Akurey quickly, so you can spend your best daylight watching birds up close. I really like the short, efficient timing and the way the guide helps you spot puffins (and other seabirds) instead of just pointing and hoping. One heads-up: puffins are small and quick, so photos and video can be hit-or-miss.

You start at Old Harbour in Reykjavik, suit up, then ride out for a fast coastal run before the boat engine goes quiet near the islands. Expect mountains and city lights in the background, a small group capped at 12, and a guide who fills the time with real bird talk—plus extra audio help through a multi-language app.

Key highlights worth your time

• One hour on the water so this fits neatly into a busy Reykjavik schedule
• Lundey and Akurey in the bay about 15 minutes from Old Harbour, with rocky shores and birdy hills
• Engine-off viewing time so you can actually watch without the constant roar
• Close approach thanks to shallow-draft RIBs, built for getting near the islands
• Guided spotting of more than puffins, including northern fulmars, gulls, arctic terns, and black guillemots
• Gear included: full-body waterproof suit, goggles, and a life vest

Why a RIB Speedboat Makes Puffin Time Work in Reykjavik

Reykjavik is great, but the weather doesn’t care about your itinerary. You don’t want to lose half a day to travel time when puffins are what you came for. This one-hour experience is built for efficiency. You get a quick hop out to the islands and then a focused viewing window where you can actually look.

The speedboat format also changes the feel. Instead of a slow ride where you’re craning your neck and hoping the birds show up, you’re moving, then stopping with purpose. When the boat turns off the engine near the islands, the whole scene shifts from transport to wildlife watching.

For me, the best value is the combination: short time + close proximity + a guide who knows what you’re looking for. Puffins aren’t big statues on a cliff. They’re tiny, they move fast, and they make it tricky. A guide helps you see what matters.

Old Harbour Meeting Point: the Little Wooden Hut Routine

The tour meets at a row of wooden huts in Reykjavik’s Old Harbour, marked REYKJAVIK BY BOAT. Plan to arrive early—at least 30 minutes before departure—so you’re not rushing through gear and boarding.

This matters more than it sounds. Puffin tours depend on weather and safety decisions by the captain. When plans shift, you want to be in the right place, ready to go, without delays you can control.

Also note what’s not included: there’s no pickup or drop-off included (it’s offered as an add-on). So you’ll want to be comfortable getting yourself to Old Harbour.

Gear Included (and Why Waterproof Shoes Are the Only Big Missing Piece)

You’re provided with the essentials for Iceland’s “why is it windy here” reality: a full-body waterproof suit, goggles, and a life vest. That’s a big deal for value, because it removes a common hassle for visitors—figuring out cold-weather layering and rain gear on the fly.

The one thing you’ll need to handle yourself is waterproof shoes. Bring footwear that can handle wet spray and rocky ground when you board and move around.

One practical tip: you’ll likely have a much better time if your own clothes under the suit are warm and comfortable. You don’t need fancy gear—just something you can move in without feeling like a bundled-up astronaut.

The 15-Minute Ride Out: City Lights, Mountains, and a Fast Dose of Bay Air

The islands—Lundey and Akurey—sit in the Reykjavík bay area, about 15 minutes from Old Harbour. That short crossing is a huge part of why this tour feels manageable. You’re not stuck on the water for ages, which is good when daylight is limited or your attention span is already divided between streets, museums, and dinner plans.

Along the way, you get open views back toward the city and out toward the mountains. Even in lousy weather, the motion of the boat and the coastal angles can make the ride feel like part of the show, not just transportation.

The RIB design is also relevant here. These are built with a shallow draft, which helps the captain get closer to the island shores—without scraping along the waterline.

Lundey and Akurey: What You’re Really Doing During the Engine-Off Viewing Time

This is the core of the tour. You arrive at the islands, then the captain turns off the engine so passengers can observe the birds and the surroundings.

That engine-off moment is one of those small things that makes a big difference. Puffins aren’t the kind of wildlife that waits politely for you to get settled. Without noise and vibration, you notice details: where birds land, how they move, and how they react when other birds get active.

Lundey and Akurey are small islands with hills and slopes, and their shores are rocky. The tour boats are suited to the terrain, letting you get close enough that birds aren’t just dots on the horizon.

While you watch, your licensed guide shares what to look for and helps connect the dots. If you’re new to puffins, this is where it stops being random sightings and starts becoming real understanding: puffins have their own rhythm, their own habits, and their own look.

Puffins Up Close: Spotting Tips That Will Save Your Photos

Puffins can be adorable and maddening at the same time. They’re small and quick, and they don’t sit still for long. One of the best pieces of real-world advice from the experience: be ready for that. Don’t expect perfect still shots every minute.

What you can aim for is better odds:

• Keep your eyes on the shoreline and near where activity gathers, not just the open water.
• Use short, steady bursts for video instead of long takes.
• Accept that some moments will be more about watching than recording.

Now, here’s the fun part. A guide experience that stands out is playful bird storytelling—one guide even used puffin-like sound impersonations. That’s not just cute. It helps you notice calls and behavior, which makes spotting easier when birds are moving fast.

And yes, even if you don’t nail the perfect clip, you’ll likely leave with the real memory: seeing thousands of puffins in their natural habitat, in a way that feels way closer than typical “view from far away” wildlife trips.

More Than Puffins: Other Birds You May See Along the Way

If you’re going for puffins only, you’ll still probably get bonus sightings. The guide also looks out for other seabirds that share the area, including:

• Northern fulmars
• Gulls
• Arctic terns
• Black guillemots

This matters because it changes the tour from a single-target hunt into a broader birding snapshot. If puffin activity is high (often it is), you’ll get great results. If puffins are busier in one corner of the viewing area, the guide’s bird knowledge helps keep you engaged instead of waiting.

Learning Onboard: the Special Tours App Adds a Useful Extra Layer

There’s also an optional add-on that works well if you like to understand what you’re seeing while you’re seeing it. The Special Tours Iceland app is available in five languages (English, German, French, Spanish, and simplified Chinese) for Android and Apple.

The app offers both text and audio information, and you can download it during your tour. Think of it as an extra explanation layer you can revisit when you’re back on land and want to remember what you just learned.

Price and Value: Is $84 Worth It?

At about $84 per person for a one-hour tour, the price isn’t low in the absolute sense. But it’s easier to justify when you look at what’s included and what’s avoided.

You get:

• a guided tour
• waterproof suit + goggles + life vest
• a fast speedboat ride
• close viewing at islands known for colorful birdlife

That’s a pretty solid “all-in” package, especially if you’d otherwise be renting gear or piecing together your own day. The real value is time. If you only have a short window in Reykjavik, a one-hour tour is easier to place than longer outings that eat into meals, daylight, or your plans around town.

Where the price can feel less worth it is if you’re expecting a calm, long wildlife cruise. This is fast, it’s outdoors, and it’s built for action and viewing time—not slow comfort.

Who Should Book This Puffin Express Tour

This tour is a strong fit if you:

• want a short, focused wildlife experience from Reykjavik
• like the idea of getting close to birds (not just watching from far away)
• appreciate expert guidance so you actually recognize what you’re seeing
• travel with family (the tour is designed to be enjoyable and educational)

It’s not a great fit if you:

• are pregnant
• have back problems
• are under 140 cm tall (there’s a height limit stated)

Even if you’re healthy, it’s still wise to go in knowing you’ll be in a waterproof suit and goggles. It’s practical, but it’s not the kind of outing where you’ll be changing outfits or staying dry in a casual way.

Should You Book This Puffin Watching Tour by RIB Speedboat?

If you want puffins in a hurry, I’d book this. The short one-hour format, the gear included, the close approach using shallow-draft boats, and the engine-off viewing window are exactly the combination that turns “maybe we’ll see birds” into a more reliable wildlife experience.

Skip it if you’re chasing perfect photo conditions or a slow sightseeing vibe. Puffins are small and fast, so your best results will come from watching closely, not expecting every shot to be postcard quality.

If you’re ready for an efficient, outdoorsy Reykjavik adventure—then this is one of the more practical ways to spend your time on the water.

FAQ

How long is the Puffin Watching Tour by RIB Speedboat?

The tour lasts 1 hour.

Where do I meet for the tour?

Meet at a little wooden hut in a row of wooden huts marked REYKJAVIK BY BOAT in Old Harbour. Arrive no later than 30 minutes before departure.

What’s included in the price?

The tour includes a full-body waterproof suit, goggles, a life vest, and a guided tour.

Is pickup and drop-off included?

No. Pickup and drop-off are not included, but they are available as an add-on.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour depends on weather conditions. The captains decide whether to sail based on many years of experience, with passenger safety and comfort in mind.

What birds might we see besides puffins?

Besides puffins, the guide may spot northern fulmars, gulls, arctic terns, and black guillemots.