Reykjavik Puffin Tour Review: Is it worth it?

So, you are thinking about hopping on a puffin watching boat tour from Reykjavik, are you? That is great! These tours could be a fab way to catch a glimpse of those super cute, little birds, plus get some time out on the water. The question, then, is whether it really is worth your while, your money and vacation time. Having been on a tour myself, I can offer you some pointers and personal experiences to help you decide if a Reykjavik puffin adventure is a “must-do” for you.

What To Expect from a Puffin Watching Trip

Typically, these puffin watching expeditions, too it’s almost always launch from the Old Harbour in Reykjavik. It’s a very tourist-friendly spot with all sorts of tour operators clustered together. Usually, these tours don’t take that long, frequently around an hour or so, and the boats, or at least the ones I saw, are designed to be stable in the water. This means they could be, that is, pretty good even if you aren’t very good with boats or feel that sea sickness coming on. Some tour operators also offer the possibility of combo tours which are inclusive of whale watching; you might want to keep an eye out for these.

The boats head out to islands close to Reykjavik, such as Akurey and Lunday, that are nesting sites for puffins. It might be a good idea to brace yourself: the puffins do fly away for winter, that is, they tend to nest in Iceland during the late spring and summer. The puffins generally start to arrive around April or May and usually leave around August. That means that should definitely be the right time to get there. One thing which you need to keep in the front of your mind is, though, is that these are still wild creatures, and there might not always be opportunities for close encounters.

Another thing that often is done by these tours is provide some commentary about the birds and the surroundings, which can be a nice bonus if you are into that sort of thing. Anyway, just to quickly add: these tours are pretty popular. Therefore, you’re usually surrounded by other tourists who are all keen to spot the puffins, so, well, that could either add to the experience or make it a little cramped, it all depends on your personality.

The Upsides of Taking a Puffin Tour

Obviously, the major upside with these sorts of boat tours is the chance of getting a really awesome look at Atlantic puffins in their nesting areas. I do feel I have to highlight, these birds can be exceptionally pretty with their bright beaks and goofy demeanor, plus watching them flitting about is actually pretty entertaining. They do fly so comically!

In some respects, the tours themselves give you some amazing photographic chances, with great views of the Reykjavik coastline too. Plus, let’s not forget: you’re out on a boat! And that tends to be fun, a bit, especially on a clear day when the scenery is nice. The tours are actually accessible too, often, and not terribly lengthy which might make them great if you’re traveling with your family and little ones, or even if you have limited time in Reykjavik.

Potential Downsides Worth Considering

Truthfully, weather could really affect your experience, very, so if the sea is quite rough, the tour might be quite unpleasant, and sightings are, too it’s almost never guaranteed. Plus, sometimes puffins are too far to get a clear look at. And here I go mentioning it again, tours tend to be fairly busy. Now, it could be the case that it can be a little bit of a struggle to get a great spot on the boat. I did not feel especially thrilled about it.

These tours, in some respects, might feel very touristy, so they won’t necessarily be great if you wish to have like, a seriously private nature encounter. Puffin nesting season does tend to coincide with the high tourist season in Iceland; that might mean there are more crowds plus also potentially higher prices too. What can you do.

Picking the “Right” Puffin Tour for Your needs

First off, think about what exactly is most important to you, it may well be seeing the puffins and you might be ok with crowds, or it could well be you wish for a smaller group or longer tour, those all exist, arguably, and are easy enough to get your hands on. Have a look into which tour operators are committed to responsible tourism practices. By this I’m implying that those tours keep their distance and minimise any disturbance to the birds and the area in general. Read a bunch of reviews from a few different sources, such as TripAdvisor, for instance, just to see other people’s experiences.

The time of day might alter the tour also. So, do puffins typically more active at some times than others? It probably isn’t that critical but something you need to figure out as well. Booking beforehand is, often, really helpful, particularly during peak season, to assure yourself of a spot. Finally, too it’s almost, what’s your spend limit? Price ranges might be radically different, hence, it could be worth comparing what each tour has on offer as part of its asking prices.

So, Is the Reykjavik Puffin Watching Boat Tour Really Worth It?

Ok, right to the big question; this really relies on you and your travel preferences. In the event that you are seriously passionate about seeing puffins in Iceland with a very short amount of time and don’t wish to travel too far from Reykjavik, these tours might just well be worthwhile. If you’re a real serious photographer wanting stunning images, or you truly detest crowds, there might just well be other choices that are suited better to you.

Keep in your mind that trips into Iceland can be wild and wonderful, yet unpredictable, anyway, but I’m sure you were already aware! Preparing, knowing what to anticipate and considering some key points really will make certain that no matter if the puffins are plentiful or a little evasive on that precise day, you have yourself a very unforgettable time while you are exploring Iceland’s beautiful coastal areas.