Puffins by Land and Sea: The Best Ways to Spot Puffins on ATV and Boat Tours

For many visitors to Iceland, the chance to see puffins is a big factor in their choice of destination. The Westman Islands, therefore, are a particularly good fit as this is where you’ll find the largest puffin colony in the country. But is it better to base yourself on land or at sea? In this article, we will take a brief look at the best ways to spot puffins on land, on our ATV tours and on boat trips. 

Land-based puffin viewpoints

On land probably the best place in Heimaey to spot puffins is at the Stórhöfði bird hide. Located a short distance south of the main port this cliffside locale is a smart choice because of the proximity of the hide to the puffins themselves. Snug and protected from the wind inside the little hut, you’ll have the opportunity to really study the antics and behaviour of these cute and clumsy birds.

Now it’s possible to get to Stórhöfði under your own steam. In theory it’s within walking distance of the port, though the uphill climb might put some visitors off. So what if you haven’t had a car or brought your rental over to the Westman Islands? Fortunately this doesn’t mean you’ll miss out.

Puffin spotting on our ATV tours

The answer is simple: reserve a place on our Volcanic Vistas and Puffin Paradise tour. Our ATV tours are a lot of fun but this one is particularly good for bird lovers. Throughout puffin season – from mid April until mid August – we incorporate the Stórhöfði hide into our itinerary and make it a significant stop. 

As well as seeing some of Heimaey’s most famous landmarks, including Elephant Rock, there’ll be ample time to study these comical birds with their orange feet and multi-coloured beaks. We’ll see them coming into land with beaks full of silvery fish ready to feed their chicks that are still in the burrows. 

Our guide will tell you some background information about Arctic puffins in the Westman Islands and what it is about this part of Iceland that makes it such a great place to see them. They’ll offer some fun facts which will give you a deeper understanding of the importance of this part of the Westman Islands for puffins and sea birds in general.

Seeing seabirds at sea

Puffin tours on Heimaey aren’t confined to land. The clue’s in the name: seabirds are also an integral part of any boat trip itinerary. So birdwatching in Iceland can also be easily combined with a boat tour, whether that’s on a fast and thrilling RIB or a more sedate sightseeing cruise.

The difference here is that you’ll see the puffins offshore in the Westman Islands and get to observe a different facet of their behaviour. Instead of the clumsy landings, you’ll see how much effort it takes for these squat birds to remain airborne. Watching their tiny wings flap extraordinarily fast is fascinating. You might see them dive into the water too, and perhaps see the moment when these strong swimmers emerge with a beak full of fish.

So should you choose a land-based tour or boat trip?

If you’re really keen to see puffins during your time in the Westman Islands, then we’d recommend you do both kinds of puffin tours in Heimaey. Even in a single day it’s possible to book an ATV ride as well as a boat trip. The obvious advantage of doing so, of course, is that you’ll get a much broader understanding of the way the puffins behave. 

Combining our ATV excursion with a boat tour enables you to experience puffins in a variety of settings and also ensures that you maximise sightings. Birdwatching in Iceland is a rewarding experience and even if it’s not usually your thing back home, you’ll be glad you built in several opportunities to encounter puffins in their natural habitat during your time in the Westman Islands.