Puffin Express by RIB Speedboat from Reykjavík

The star of this one-hour trip is the chance to watch puffins from the water beside Reykjavík, rather than spending half a day on a distant excursion. The boat heads toward Lundey or Akurey, rocky islands where puffins nest from May through August.

I like the small maximum group of 12, which keeps the ride personal and makes it easier to hear the guide. I also like the practical cold-weather kit: warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and life jackets are supplied. The main point to consider is that this is called a speedboat tour, but the ride may be fairly slow once you reach the birds.

Key points to know before booking

• Puffin season runs from May through August, when the islands are used for nesting.
• The trip leaves at noon from Ægisgarður 5F in Reykjavík’s Old Harbour.
• Lundey and Akurey sit close to Reykjavík, so you spend little time reaching the bird areas.
• A maximum of 12 people keeps this more intimate than a large sightseeing boat.
• Warm overalls, gloves, goggles, and suspension seats are included.
• The $85.01 price is reasonable if you value a short, focused wildlife outing, but less appealing if you want a fast thrill ride.

Puffins just offshore from Reykjavík

I like the basic idea here: you do not need to give up most of a day to see one of Iceland’s best-known birds. The islands sit just off Reykjavík, so the outing fits neatly into a city break, even if you have only a day or two in town.

Puffins nest on the islands between May and August. The slopes and small hills are covered with bird life during that period, and the rocky shore gives the RIB a useful advantage. A boat can approach the shoreline closely without putting you ashore or disturbing the nesting ground.

You should keep your expectations sensible. This is a wildlife outing, not a guaranteed close-up photo session. The boat gets near the rocks, but puffins are still wild birds. Their position, activity, and numbers can vary with the day and the weather.

The local setting adds value. You are not being driven to a remote nature reserve and then placed in front of a staged display. You are leaving from the city and heading toward small islands that form part of Reykjavík’s coastal world. The trip gives you a quick look at how close Iceland’s bird life is to its capital.

Meeting the boat at Ægisgarður 5F

The meeting point is at Reykjavík by Boat, Ægisgarður 5F, in the Old Harbour. The tour starts at 12:00 pm and ends back at the same location, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup point.

That central start is useful if you are staying in Reykjavík or already exploring the harbour. Hotel transfers are not included, though they can be arranged for an extra fee of about 2,200 ISK. Since the departure point is near public transportation, you may find it simpler to make your own way there.

Plan to arrive ready for a short outdoor trip, not a polished indoor cruise. Before boarding, you meet the guide and receive the supplied clothing and safety equipment. Warm overalls help protect you from the cold air over the water, while goggles and gloves are especially useful on a moving RIB.

The clothing is not just a nice extra. Reykjavík can feel chilly even when the calendar says summer, and wind over open water can make the temperature seem lower. You should still dress sensibly underneath the overalls. The supplied gear adds protection, but it does not turn the boat into a heated cabin.

A RIB ride with comfort in mind

The tour uses one of two RIB speedboats. A rigid inflatable boat is well suited to this coast because it can move close to rocky shorelines and carry a small group without the bulk of a large vessel.

The boat has suspension seats, a detail that matters more than it may sound. A short ride over open water can still be bumpy, and suspension seating gives you some support when the boat moves across the waves. You also receive a life jacket, goggles, gloves, and warm overalls before setting out.

The word RIB may suggest a high-speed thrill ride. One account of the trip found the ride slower than expected, despite the safety warnings and protective equipment. That is worth knowing before you book. The boat can move quickly when conditions allow, but once you are near the birds, a controlled pace is more useful than speed.

A slower approach can also be a good thing. It gives the guide more control near the rocks and gives you a better chance to watch the birds instead of simply racing past them. If your main goal is a dramatic adrenaline rush, this may feel mild. If your main goal is bird watching, the calmer pace may work in your favor.

Lundey and Akurey: two small bird islands

The route is described as heading to Lundey or Akurey, both close to Reykjavík. The exact choice can depend on the outing and conditions. One account of the experience included seeing puffins on two islands, so the trip can provide more than one bird-watching area, but you should not treat a particular island sequence as guaranteed.

Lundey is known for its puffin population and its low, sloping shape. The island has small hills and rocky edges, with nesting birds using the ground and slopes. From the boat, you look toward the shore rather than walking across the nesting area.

Akurey offers the same basic appeal: a short trip from the harbour to a coastal bird colony. The attraction is not a landmark building or a long hike. It is the simple pleasure of seeing puffins where they live, with Reykjavík still close behind you.

The rocky shore is the important part. The RIB is designed to approach as close as practical, letting you see the birds from the water. That position can be better than viewing from a distant large boat, especially for anyone who wants to watch the birds’ behavior rather than tick puffin off a list.

Still, the islands are small and the outing lasts about an hour. You will not have time for a long walk, broad exploration, or a full coastal cruise. Think of it as a compact wildlife visit, not a full-day nature expedition.

More than puffins: the bird life around the islands

Puffins are the headline act, but the guide also points out other seabirds in the area. You might see northern fulmars, gulls, and Arctic terns along with the puffins.

This is where the guide makes a real difference. Without explanation, a short boat trip could become a quick scan of dark shapes on distant rocks. With the guide, you have context for what you are seeing and why the islands matter to the birds.

Guide Celina received especially strong praise for keeping the group entertained while explaining puffins, the Reykjavík area, and the way puffins interact with their surroundings. Her role is not only to identify birds. A good guide helps you notice behavior, understand the nesting season, and make sense of the coast around you.

You should not expect a formal lecture. The format is a small boat, a short route, and live commentary outdoors. That makes the quality and timing of the explanations important. The supplied information promises English-language guiding, so you should be comfortable following the tour in English.

What the one-hour schedule really gives you

An hour sounds brief, and it is. But the short length is also one of the tour’s strongest features for a city visit.

You spend the first part meeting the guide, putting on the provided gear, and boarding. The boat then runs from the Old Harbour toward the nearby island area. Time is set aside for watching puffins and other seabirds, with the guide explaining what you see, before the boat returns to the harbour.

Because the islands are close to Reykjavík, the schedule is focused. You are not spending most of the outing on a long transfer. The drawback is that every minute matters. If you arrive late, need extra time getting dressed, or hope to linger over every bird, the hour may feel tight.

The noon start can fit well with a morning in Reykjavík. You could pair it with a harbour walk, lunch, or another city activity before or after, though the tour itself does not include food or drinks. The start time also gives you a clear planning point, rather than an early departure that requires rearranging your whole morning.

Weather can affect the experience. The tour requires good conditions, and poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund. That policy is useful in Iceland, where coastal conditions can change quickly, but you should leave some flexibility in your schedule if puffins are a major priority.

Is $85.01 good value?

At $85.01 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend an hour in Reykjavík. It is also not an unreasonable price for a small-group boat trip that includes specialist clothing, safety equipment, a guide, and suspension seating.

The value depends on what you want from it. I think the price makes sense if you care about seeing puffins from the water and want a compact activity that does not take up half your day. The small group and close approach to the rocky shore add more value than a basic harbor cruise.

The calculation looks different if you mainly want speed. One account found the boat much slower than expected and felt that a less powerful boat could have done the job. If fast RIB handling is the reason you are interested, you may come away feeling that the price promises more excitement than the ride delivers.

You are also paying for convenience. The islands are near the capital, the outing is only about an hour, and the equipment is supplied. You do not need to arrange a separate wildlife transfer or bring your own goggles and protective outerwear.

Food and drinks are not included, but that is easy to manage. Plan a meal before or after in Reykjavík rather than expecting refreshments on the boat.

Who will enjoy this outing most?

I would choose this tour for a visitor who wants a direct puffin encounter without committing to a long day. It suits people staying in central Reykjavík, families or couples who prefer a small group, and anyone interested in birds as well as scenery.

It also works well for a first visit to Iceland when your schedule is packed. You get a taste of the coast, a close look at a seasonal bird colony, and some guiding in a single hour.

You may want to skip it if you dislike open-water boat trips, need a guaranteed fast ride, or are visiting outside the May through August puffin season. The trip may still offer seabird watching at other times, but the puffins are the main reason to book.

Anyone hoping to photograph every bird in detail should bring realistic expectations. The boat approaches the shore, but the outing is short and the birds are wild. The experience is best enjoyed as a close coastal encounter, with photos as a bonus rather than the only goal.

Booking, cancellation, and practical details

The maximum group size is 12, which is small enough for a more personal outing but still large enough that you may share the boat with a mix of ages and interests. Most people can participate, though the tour remains an outdoor boat activity with movement and cold conditions.

You receive booking confirmation at the time of booking. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather cancels the tour, you are offered another date or a full refund.

The best practical tip is simple: dress for wind, arrive at the Old Harbour with time to spare, and do not book the tour so tightly against another activity that a weather change causes trouble.

Should you book the Puffin Express?

Book it if you want a short, focused puffin trip from Reykjavík and value a small group, warm gear, and live bird commentary. The nearby islands make this much easier to fit into a city itinerary than a longer wildlife excursion.

I would be more cautious if you are paying mainly for a high-speed thrill ride. The boat may move quickly in open water, but the bird-watching portion is controlled and can feel slow. For most people, that is a fair trade: the calmer approach gives you time to watch the puffins and hear the guide.

For a summer visit from May through August, this is a practical way to meet Iceland’s famous seabirds without leaving Reykjavík for the day. Just remember that nature sets the schedule, not the boat brochure.

FAQ

Where does the Puffin Express depart from?

The tour starts at Reykjavík by Boat, Ægisgarður 5F, 101 Reykjavík, in the Old Harbour.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 12:00 pm.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately one hour and returns to the original meeting point.

Which islands does the boat visit?

The route goes toward Lundey or Akurey, islands just off the coast of Reykjavík known for puffins. The exact route may vary.

When can I see puffins on these islands?

Puffins nest on the islands from May through August.

What equipment is included?

Warm overalls, life jackets, gloves, goggles, and suspension seats are included. An English-speaking guide is also included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather leads to cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.