Whale Watching & Puffins in Húsavík: The Puffins Have Arrived!

The puffins have arrived in Húsavík! We welcome our cute and furry friends, the Atlantic Puffin, as they’ve begun migrating to the famous Puffin Island located near Húsavík!

Iceland is home to 60% of the Atlantic Puffin population. In Húsavík, more than 200,000 puffins live in the nearby Puffin Island part of the year. The Puffin Island is a steep cliff, which is an ideal place for the puffins to build nests. The puffins, clever as they are, use the same nests year after year. When you spot a puffin in his burrow, know that he has been in that exact position many times before!

When Can I See Puffins in Húsavík?

The Atlantic Puffin lives on the open ocean for the most part of the year. Ranging from the eastern coast of Canada all the way to northern Russia, the puffin has been specially adapted to living on the open sea. From late September until early April, the puffin dwells in the Atlantic Ocean. From mid-April until late August, the puffins live in Iceland!

So, if the cute little birds are the only thing you’re after, visit Iceland in the summer for the puffins!

• April 15 – August 20, puffins can be spotted in the Puffin Island, Húsavík.

How Can I See Puffins in Húsavík?

Three great places to see the puffins near Húsavík are: the Puffin Island, Tjörnes (Skeiðsöxl and Hringsbjarg), and Rauðanes. The Puffin Island is located right off the coastline, making it only approachable by boat. However, Tjörnes and Rauðanes are accessible by car plus a short walk. Note, that there are way fewer puffins in both of those places compared to Puffin Island, where they rise up to a staggering 200,000! If you are trying to spot puffins from land, it is good to bring your binoculars and of course it´s nice to have a good enough camera lens, preferably a telephoto lens, to increase your chances of catching a good shot (with your camera of course)!

We recommend doing a puffin watching tour. Combined with whale watching, you can see both whales and puffins on the same trip! Lasting a full 3-hours, you experience the wildlife of Iceland in an unforgettable whale and puffin watching tour!

• You can see puffins in Húsavík from a boat by doing a whales and puffins tour.
• You can see puffins near Húsavík from land, in Rauðanes or Tjörnes.

What Do I Need To Bring To See Puffins in Húsavík?

If you do a puffin tour, you don’t need to bring anything. Well, besides warm clothes. The boats go close to the Puffin Island so you’re able to see puffins at sea, flying and nesting in their burrows!

Just make sure to give yourself good time to enjoy watching this funny little fellows.

Book Your Puffin Tour & Spot Puffins in Húsavík!

Now you know everything you need to know to see puffins in Húsavík. The best option, of course, is doing a puffin watching tour! It takes you up to the largest puffin colony in North Iceland, the Puffin Island, where over 200,000 puffins nest.