THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
In a brisk 60-minute outing from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour you can glide around Akurey Island and watch puffins, guillemots and terns up close. This short shore excursion is timed for cruise passengers and offers guided wildlife interpretation and close shoreline viewing.
In a brisk 60-minute outing from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour you can glide around Akurey Island and watch puffins, guillemots and terns up close. This short shore excursion is timed for cruise passengers and offers guided wildlife interpretation and close shoreline viewing.
The boat slips out of Reykjavík’s Old Harbour with a soft chug and the city’s roofs shrink behind you as wind and salt sharpen the air.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Special Tours Iceland · Reykjavik, Capital Region
The boat slips out of Reykjavík’s Old Harbour with a soft chug and the city’s roofs shrink behind you as wind and salt sharpen the air.
Within 10–15 minutes the shoreline changes from harbor concrete to low, rugged islets where basalt rock meets the cold sea. Akurey’s grassy slopes and rocky ledges host one of the capital’s larger puffin colonies; the birds crowd the cliffs in frenetic bursts—flying, plunging, returning—while guillemots and terns wheel overhead. The guide points out nesting habits and local geology: young lava fields sliced by ancient glaciers, thin soils that support hardy grass and seabird burrows.
Iceland’s coast has long supported small-scale birding and egg-collecting traditions; today tours focus on observation and protection. The captain eases the vessel close to shore, then cuts the engine so passengers can listen to the water and watch the birds at eye level—an intimate, short wildlife encounter that fits most cruise schedules.
Practicalities: the outing is about 60 minutes total, with multiple daily departures timed for cruise-ship windows. Dress windproof and waterproof; temperatures near the water can be 5–10°C cooler than onshore. Binoculars are provided, but bring your own for steadier views and faster focus. Expect gentle boat motion but consider seasickness prevention if you’re sensitive. Photography opportunities are excellent from the deck; avoid stepping off designated areas or attempting to land—the island is protected and the boat only circles the shoreline. Return to Old Harbour is prompt, making this a compact, wildlife-focused shore excursion that pairs easily with Reykjavík sightseeing.
No—the tour circles the island by boat and does not include landing; this minimizes disturbance to nesting birds and follows local protection rules.
Puffins are most visible during the breeding season, typically late spring through summer when they nest and feed chicks close to shore.
The operator lists wheelchair accessibility for rolling onboard, but accessibility can depend on port dock configuration—contact the operator ahead of time to confirm specific needs.
This excursion includes a shore excursion guarantee for timely return; in rare cases of missed departure the operator will assist with onward transportation or refund per their policy.
Special Tours Iceland operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
The boat slips out of Reykjavík’s Old Harbour with a soft chug and the city’s roofs shrink behind you as wind and salt sharpen the air.
The boat slips out of Reykjavík’s Old Harbour with a soft chug and the city’s roofs shrink behind you as wind and salt sharpen the air.
Within 10–15 minutes the shoreline changes from harbor concrete to low, rugged islets where basalt rock meets the cold sea. Akurey’s grassy slopes and rocky ledges host one of the capital’s larger puffin colonies; the birds crowd the cliffs in frenetic bursts—flying, plunging, returning—while guillemots and terns wheel overhead. The guide points out nesting habits and local geology: young lava fields sliced by ancient glaciers, thin soils that support hardy grass and seabird burrows.
Iceland’s coast has long supported small-scale birding and egg-collecting traditions; today tours focus on observation and protection. The captain eases the vessel close to shore, then cuts the engine so passengers can listen to the water and watch the birds at eye level—an intimate, short wildlife encounter that fits most cruise schedules.
Practicalities: the outing is about 60 minutes total, with multiple daily departures timed for cruise-ship windows. Dress windproof and waterproof; temperatures near the water can be 5–10°C cooler than onshore. Binoculars are provided, but bring your own for steadier views and faster focus. Expect gentle boat motion but consider seasickness prevention if you’re sensitive. Photography opportunities are excellent from the deck; avoid stepping off designated areas or attempting to land—the island is protected and the boat only circles the shoreline. Return to Old Harbour is prompt, making this a compact, wildlife-focused shore excursion that pairs easily with Reykjavík sightseeing.