This is an incredible opportunity to connect with nature, but, of course, needs to be done so with respect to the animal. Even if you overlook a puffin-watching segment and simply take a standard whale-watching tour, you are still more than likely to see puffins, bobbing like corks in the ocean or fluttering overhead. This occurs throughout the summer; therefore, the puffin-watching season in Iceland lasts from June to September. The Látrabjarg birdwatching cliffs are the most westerly point of Iceland; considering Iceland is the most westerly European country, they are often also considered to be the most western point of the whole continent (in spite of the fact that they are actually on the North American tectonic plate). You will drive through the geothermal town of Hveragerði, where you can hike to and bathe in natural hot springs, and pass by two of the country’s favourite waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Puffin Watching from the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, The World’s Most Disgusting Icelandic Food, Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Guillaume Baviere, Spectacular 2.5 Hour Big Whale Safari & Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour with Transfer from Husavik, Up Close 2 Hour Whale & Puffin Watching Boat Tour with Transfer from Reykjavik, Affordable 1 Hour Puffin Watching Boat Tour with Transfer from Reykjavik, combine your puffin-watching trip with a whale-watch, Whale Watching on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, Puffin and Volcano Tour | Westman Islands, Scenic 1 Hour Small Island Boat Tour in Vestmannaeyjar with Transfer from Heimaey Harbor, If approaching on a cliff, do not get right to the edge; puffins dig burrows into cliffs, so you could inadvertently step on a weak piece of earth and crush their nest (of course, this poses a danger to people too, considering some of Iceland’s cliffs are hundreds of metres tall), Never try to touch a puffin, unless it is very clearly lost and in need of rescue, If watching from a boat, keep a respectful distance, especially if your vessel has a loud engine, Do not try to feed the puffins; they are more than capable of hunting for their own food. Even so, however, there are multiple boat trips you can take from the historic town of Stykkishólmur that will allow you to explore the fjord and see these birds both nesting and hunting in the waters. How has Guide to Iceland changed since its conception? This makes puffins quite as awe-inspiring collectively as they are adorable individually. It was, after all, home to Keiko, the long-suffering orca that played Free Willy, prior to his release back into the wild. They cannot be seen all year, however. This nook in the South Coast is often overlooked by travellers, so is the perfect place to come if you want to admire puffins without the crowds. The fact that they nest in the same places they were born, and only nest when there are other puffins around, means that certain places in Iceland are undoubtedly the best in the world for this special kind of birdwatching. These tours do not necessarily market themselves as puffin-watching excursions, as puffins are just an expected part of the experience. That’s right, you don’t need to travel to Iceland or the Faroe Islands to see puffins. It is named after Ingólfur Arnarson, Iceland’s first settler to come here by choice, as it is where he first wintered before settling in Reykjavík. During that time they will create huge colonies on the land. Dyrhólaey is a protected nature area in Iceland and access to the area is closed during a certain period of the puffin nesting season in order to help protect the puffins and other nesting birds from disturbances by both tourists and hunters. If you wish to spend more of your time on land, however, you need not worry; there are colonies in the cliffs here too. With caution, you can approach more closely, being sure to stay approximately a metre from the edge so that you don’t accidentally cave in a hidden puffin burrow. Firstly, it provides you with a great opportunity to get out on the water and admire sites such as the peninsulas around Faxafloi bay from a unique perspective. Taking a boat tour from Reykjavík’s Old Harbour to see an island full of puffins seems too convenient to be true, but from May to August, is more than a possibility. If you’ve come to Iceland to see puffins, you’re in luck; 60% of the world’s Atlantic puffins live here. Tour guides Paulina Pierzak and Armann Ægisson, for example, found a puffling at midnight in downtown Reykjavík, likely confused by the lights, and as bewildered as to see them as they were it. Best time to see Puffins in Iceland. Something to be aware of if planning a visit to Grimsey is that, because of how far north it is, the puffins tend to migrate a little earlier than in much of the rest of the country. You won't find it difficult to observe these birds if you visit their most favourite spots such as Great Saltee, the Cliffs of Moher, and Skellig Michael. This takes us all the way to July when the young puffins, of pufflings begin to fledge. Traveling to Iceland during the summer months means one thing: Puffin season! Read more: 5 Things you need to know about Puffins Where is the Best Place to See Puffins by Boat? When does the midnight sun take place in Iceland? Reaching the Westman Islands throughout summer is easy; there are domestic flights from Reykjavík airport, and regular ferries running from the southern town of Þorlákshöfn. Icelandic word for puffin is “lundi”. Just off the shore of East Iceland is another enormous puffin colony that can be reached by boat. While great whales do not frequent its waters so reliably, the area is the best place in the country to find the elusive and magnificent orca. If you are utilising a summer self-drive package that guides you around the entire ring-road of Iceland, the Westfjords and the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, such as these, which go over ten, thirteen and fourteen days, this ferry trip is included in your itinerary and in the price. If puffin watching, therefore, heed the following guidelines to ensure the experience is as pleasant for you as it is botherless for the bird in question. While certainly an impressive sight during winter, it is throughout the summer that these cliffs truly come alive. Also they are great divers and can dive up to 60 metres. I started looking for ways to see these puffins in Iceland and came across a whale watching tour combined with a visit to “Puffin Island”. By the end of July or occasionally the start of August the puffins will have left us again for another season. This part of your journey is mainly comprised of sightseeing landscapes, rather than specific features, so interrupting it with a boat trip to Papey can make for a great way to break up the day. This hidden gem of a destination is surrounded by mighty cliffs, and only accessible by crossing the dunes to its north-west; its sheltered, protected location makes it a thriving home for Iceland’s puffins and other birds. With 8 to 10 million puffins inhabiting the island, Iceland is home for more than 60% of the world’s entire Atlantic puffin population. Due to the cautious nature of these birds when choosing a place to nest, however, you are unlikely to find any in a location that is not known for its puffins. Iceland is home to more than 60% of the Earth's entire Atlantic puffin population, with anywhere from 8–10 million puffins inhabiting the island. The beak fades to gray during the winter but blooms into orange colour in the spring time. Luckily, however, there are puffin colonies just a few hours away along the South Coast, the closest being at Dyrhólaey Rock Arch. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by MosheA. Puffins can be seen in Iceland from early April until September each year. Breiðafjörður is the fjord that separates the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the Westfjords. While Atlantic Puffins are found across Northern Europe from Iceland to Ireland, the UK and Scandinavia (and occasionally a tad further south), Ireland is certainly one of the easiest places to spot these adorably iconic birds. When they are nesting, puffins are often very easy to see and approach; in spite of being hunted and having their eggs raided in Iceland for a millennium, they have very little fear of people, and it is easy to get within a metre of them in some places. They are in bloom and visible almost wherever you drive aro... On my search for turf houses around Iceland, I visited Sænautasel hypothetical turf house on Jökuldalsheiði heath in the highland of Iceland. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Guillaume Baviere. Iceland has the perfect spots for puffin breeding grounds as they prefer to nest on rocky cliff sides along the ocean, something of which Iceland has plenty of. Breiðafjörður is another place where puffins can be found. Read more for the best spot to go for free to have an up-close experience of the puffins in east Iceland. Iceland is the only country in the world, where you can hunt Puffins. The breeding season of puffins stars in early May. If you like them you should be able to find them easily in Iceland in summer. East Iceland Borgarfjörður Eystri. * Ísafjarðardjúp, the Westfjords The island Vigur is the largest of three islands in the fjord, and a good place to see puffins. In most places, there will be markers showing you the closest you can get, so for the safety of everyone involved, follow their guidance. They are excellent swimmers using their wings to stroke underwater. As discussed earlier, if you want to make the most of the largest Atlantic Puffin colony in the world, you can take boat tours from Heimaey in the Westman Islands to fully immerse yourself in an avian spectacle. Then it will be time for the Alderney Wildlife Trust ecologists to see how the population has fared in the 2020 puffin season. Puffins on Latrabjarg, Hornbjarg, Hornstrandir, Haelavikurbjarg, Breidafjord and … Most importantly, don't There are certain places along the coast where they nest in vast numbers, which you can rent a car to drive to and approach yourself, and boat tours from destinations all around the country that will take you to islands that they seasonally colonise. Photo from Whale Watching on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Secondly, it allows you to watch puffins doing more than just guarding their burrows, such as bobbing in the water and diving for fish. Unfortunately, there aren't any tours into Breiðafjörður focussed on locating and admiring its puffins. It is, for example, just an hour’s drive from Lake Mývatn, an area renowned for its diverse array of geological and geothermal wonders. How close will they let you get? With their orange legs, striped colorful beak, and black and white plumage, these small birds are adorably cute. If you want more information please feel free to send me a message. Photo from Spectacular 2.5 Hour Big Whale Safari & Puffin Watching RIB Boat Tour with Transfer from Husavik. Several bird-watching trails will take you to see the puffins; one leads to its outermost tip, called Voladalstorfa, while another runs along the cliffs by Skeiðsöxl. Faxafloí bay has a huge wealth of life, with White Beaked Dolphins, Harbour Porpoises, Minke Whales and Humpbacks all frequently seen in the summer months; you also have a chance to see Blue and Fin Whales, Orcas, and even Basking Sharks. If you want to see puffins, you have to head to the Irish coasts – in particular, Ireland’s rugged west coast. Many of the little isles and rock crops you will pass (and, of course, linger at) will be packed with puffins, and throughout the tour, you will see many in the air and water. If neither of these trips appeals to you or fit into your schedule, you also have a great chance of catching puffins simply by taking the Baldur ferry from Stykkishólmur to Bránslækur in the Westfjords, or visa versa. Driving Route 1 South, you cannot miss this enormous landmark. Did you know that Atlantic puffins spend most of their lives at sea, but return to land to form breeding colonies during spring and summer? While puffins are out at sea, it’s difficult to spot them. These tours often have a lot more life than just the birds; seals are likely to be sharing the craggy coasts with them, and you have a good chance of seeing cetaceans too. While admiring them, you can keep an eye out for the elusive ptarmigans, great cormorants, and black guillemots. There are more than one puffin species but the one that breeds in Iceland is the so called Atlantic Puffin . 15 Aug 2019. R... How expensive is Iceland? There are many museums and natural sites that you can spend hours exploring to learn about all of this colourful past. The mating season is usually from May till mid-August. The most affordable and direct trip will take you out in a boat that has been visiting these islands for seventeen years; it is small enough to get close to the islands safely and quietly, yet still has a sheltered area in case it the weather becomes problematic. The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), also known as the common puffin, is a species of seabird in the auk family. Puffins are just one of the dozens of species of birds that come here to nest; you will also find guillemots, northern gannets, auks and forty percent of the world’s razorbills. Discover a wide range of Mountain Tours Why not join this Mo... What are the best options for your stopover in Iceland? If you are interested in a guided photo tour or want to participate in our upcoming workshop feel free to get more info by mail. The Tjornes Peninsula is a small, remote peninsula in North Iceland famous for two things: the fossils that can be found on its west coast and the birdlife on its east. Puffins are sea-birds and use the waves for resting when not swimming. Read ahead to learn all you need to know about safe travel in Iceland.... Guide to Iceland | The Story of the Leading Travel Agency of Iceland. While cases like those mentioned above in downtown Reykjavík and the greenhouses in Selfoss are uncommon, finding a lost puffin in Vestmannaeyjar is a regular occurrence. What is the condition of the Icelandic currency? So it is a … Have a look at our self drive tours with hotels and detailed itinerary, Book your complete trip with the best companies only, Iceland is spectacular in so many ways and Icelandic nature is quite unique with its vast landscape,  volcanic activity, geothermal areas, glacier lagoons and sceneries, black sand beaches and spect, People have been asking me where to find lupines in Iceland. Those who continue to harness this skill should, according to folklore in the area, be cautious, however. If one takes off in a panic, all the others may follow suit; they tend to flock together and fly in a tight circle above where they are nesting, to intimidate and protect from potential predation. Puffins spend most of the year out at sea bobbing around on the waves only returning to land during the summer months for the breeding season. Photo from Scenic 1 Hour Small Island Boat Tour in Vestmannaeyjar with Transfer from Heimaey Harbor. As they nest along the cliffs of Iceland’s craggy coastline, there are many places around the country where you can reliably find puffin colonies throughout summer. Where is the best place to see puffins in Iceland? The ‘Capital of the North’, the cultural town of Akureyri, is just an hour and a half away. They really make your day and put a smile on your face. Which mountains are the most beautiful mountains in Iceland, where are they located and what kind of mountains can you find in Iceland? They cannot be seen all year, however. Despite the declining population of Atlantic puffins in Iceland and around the world, you can still find over 5 million cuddling up on the country’s cliffs during the warmer seasons. Puffin is a culinary speciality of the Faroe Islands, in the North Atlantic Ocean. To find puffin tours in Iceland go here: Puffin & whale watching tours. Are there waterfalls all around the country? It is, in my opinion, an extremely cute turf house, buil... Sænautasel Turf House in the Highland of Iceland. Are the Icelandic roads dangerous? The total population of puffins in Iceland is estimated to be between 8 and 10 million birds. The Atlantic Puffin is most commonly found on the Westman Islands, Iceland. While it is not so easy to book a trip to see puffins specifically, there are tours that combine the experience with whale-watching; considering the number of Humpback Whales in these waters, and the areas’ tendency to invite even mightier creatures such as the Blue Whale, this is hardly a problem. In clear weather to the north, you will be able to see Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which covers Katla volcano. The Atlantic Puffins that summer in Iceland nest within coastal cliffs across the country. The winners, who claimed their third trophy of the season, were the Kópvogur Puffins. Iceland’s puffin season runs from early April through to September. Iceland is spectacular in so many ways and Icelandic nature is quite unique with its vast landscape,  volcanic activity, geothermal areas, glacier lagoons and sceneries, black sand beaches and spect... People have been asking me where to find lupines in Iceland. A top three location for spotting puffins in Iceland. Puffins roost on the surface of the ocean and only come on land in order to breed, lay their eggs, incubate them, and raise their chicks until they fledge. Puffins can be seen in Iceland from early April until September each year. Photo from Puffin and Volcano Tour | Westman Islands. Iceland Puffins, beyond being adorable, colorful, and fun to watch, are actually mysterious little creatures. 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