THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Leave Reykjavík’s Old Harbour for a 60-minute RIB ride that gets you close to nesting puffins on protected islands. This premium small-group tour includes expert guiding, warm overalls and binoculars—ideal for photographers and bird lovers visiting May–August.
Leave Reykjavík’s Old Harbour for a 60-minute RIB ride that gets you close to nesting puffins on protected islands. This premium small-group tour includes expert guiding, warm overalls and binoculars—ideal for photographers and bird lovers visiting May–August.
A cold wind slides off the bay and the Old Harbour wakes: fishing boats tick in their berths, gulls wheel above concrete piers, and one of Reykjavík’s custom RIBs shudders free from the quay. In a dozen seats you cut through silver water toward three low islands where puffins line the cliffs like bright-faced sentinels. The boat hums; the guide points, binoculars click to life, and the islands—protected nature reserves—come into focus.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Whale Safari · Reykjavík, Capital Region
A cold wind slides off the bay and the Old Harbour wakes: fishing boats tick in their berths, gulls wheel above concrete piers, and one of Reykjavík’s custom RIBs shudders free from the quay. In a dozen seats you cut through silver water toward three low islands where puffins line the cliffs like bright-faced sentinels. The boat hums; the guide points, binoculars click to life, and the islands—protected nature reserves—come into focus.
Iceland’s coast here is recent geology: young basalt lava flows sculpted by glacial retreat and sea action, forming the skerries that seabirds favor. The harbour itself grew from a fishing village into Reykjavík’s maritime heart—today a working quay and launch point for wildlife trips that speak to the city’s fishing roots and sea-focused culture.
On this one-hour RIB experience you stay aboard (reserves prohibit landing), approach nesting ledges, and learn to read bird behavior from a local expert. Puffins arrive in spring to breed; kittiwakes and guillemots share the cliffs. Tours run daily May 1–Aug 20, often multiple times, and operators supply warm overalls, gloves and binoculars so you’re ready for wind and spray.
Practical notes: arrive 30 minutes early to suit up and hear the safety briefing; expect standing for most of the trip and short bursts of speed; bring a windproof outer layer and seasickness medication if needed. Respect wildlife—no attempts to touch or chase birds—and plan this as a compact, high-impact wildlife outing from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour.
Tours run May 1–August 20 with multiple departures daily; the advertised experience is approximately 60 minutes including boarding and return to the Old Harbour.
Puffins are abundant on the islands during breeding season (May–August) but sightings depend on weather and bird activity; guides choose the best approach to maximize viewing opportunities.
Non-swimmers can join but should notify staff; minimum age is 10 years and minimum height 145 cm—operators provide safety gear for all passengers.
Trips may be canceled for safety in bad weather; the operator offers a full refund if canceled at least 24 hours in advance or if the departure is called off due to conditions.
Whale Safari operates guided outdoor trips and adventures with an emphasis on safety, stewardship, and memorable experiences.
A cold wind slides off the bay and the Old Harbour wakes: fishing boats tick in their berths, gulls wheel above concrete piers, and one of Reykjavík’s custom RIBs shudders free from the quay. In a dozen seats you cut through silver water toward three low islands where puffins line the cliffs like bright-faced sentinels. The boat hums; the guide points, binoculars click to life, and the islands—protected nature reserves—come into focus.
A cold wind slides off the bay and the Old Harbour wakes: fishing boats tick in their berths, gulls wheel above concrete piers, and one of Reykjavík’s custom RIBs shudders free from the quay. In a dozen seats you cut through silver water toward three low islands where puffins line the cliffs like bright-faced sentinels. The boat hums; the guide points, binoculars click to life, and the islands—protected nature reserves—come into focus.
Iceland’s coast here is recent geology: young basalt lava flows sculpted by glacial retreat and sea action, forming the skerries that seabirds favor. The harbour itself grew from a fishing village into Reykjavík’s maritime heart—today a working quay and launch point for wildlife trips that speak to the city’s fishing roots and sea-focused culture.
On this one-hour RIB experience you stay aboard (reserves prohibit landing), approach nesting ledges, and learn to read bird behavior from a local expert. Puffins arrive in spring to breed; kittiwakes and guillemots share the cliffs. Tours run daily May 1–Aug 20, often multiple times, and operators supply warm overalls, gloves and binoculars so you’re ready for wind and spray.
Practical notes: arrive 30 minutes early to suit up and hear the safety briefing; expect standing for most of the trip and short bursts of speed; bring a windproof outer layer and seasickness medication if needed. Respect wildlife—no attempts to touch or chase birds—and plan this as a compact, high-impact wildlife outing from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour.