Where to see Puffins in the Westman Islands
The Westman Islands are home to the largest puffin colony in Iceland. If you’re hoping to see these iconic birds during your visit, here’s where you can encounter them on a trip to Heimaey.
By boat
Boat trips are popular in the Westman Islands and one of the reasons why is that they are a way of getting close to the seabird colonies that inhabit the archipelago’s rocky coastline. The boats pass by many of the cliffs on which the birds rest, mate and nest. Elephant Rock is a popular focus, but many of the uninhabited islands are ideal for puffin sightings and other birdwatching opportunities.
Taking a boat tour is also a good idea if you’re interested in other seabirds. As well as puffins, this part of Iceland is also home to razorbills, fulmars, guillemots, storm petrels, gannets and Manx shearwaters. They are seen in significant numbers, both over open water and in the air as well as on the rocks, so you’ll be able to watch a variety of behaviours. Vessels such as rigid inflatables and kayaks are able to venture inside some of the larger caves in the archipelago.
On foot
You might also consider hiking up to the island’s bird hide on the edge of the Stórhöfði peninsula. It’s a bit of a trek from the town without a car, but the hide is well-positioned so that you can watch the puffins come and go from their grassy burrows on the side of the cliff.
The best time to see puffins is early or late in the day, as the adult birds spend a lot of their time during the day out at sea collecting food. In season, there are usually a few birds around, but for maximum impact, you’ll want to see them in larger numbers. As well as from the bird hide, other parts of the coastline – particularly to the west of the island – are also places you might spot puffins.
On our ATV tours
We run two tours that specifically go in search of puffins. Opt for our Volcanic Vistas and Puffin Paradise tour or our Puffins and Pirates tour when we make dedicated stops at Stórhöfði. In addition you can choose a private tour that is fully customisable, enabling you to choose where you stop and for how long. Contact us to discuss your needs if this is something you’d like to pursue.
These tours are a great way to pair your encounter with the Westman Islands puffins with another aspect of island life and also experience the thrill of an ATV ride. Both our puffin-themed group tours are classed as easy rides, meaning that children as young as six can ride as a passenger. The Volcanic Vistas and Puffin Paradise tour lasts around 1 hour 45 minutes, while the Puffins and Pirates is a shorter one hour tour which doesn’t involve any off-roading.
A note about when to visit
To observe puffins coming and going outdoors, you’ll need to visit the Westman Islands during their breeding season. Usually they arrive in spring, typically in late April, and most years they depart en masse in mid August to mid September. Some fledglings, known as pufflings, may still be around for a few weeks after that.
These lost and disorientated youngsters are gathered up and released; without such help they wouldn’t find their way to the ocean. Outside those dates, you might consider a visit to the Beluga Whale Sanctuary in downtown Heimaey where a small number of puffins that can’t be returned to the wild are cared for year-round.