Luckily, however, there are puffin colonies just a few hours away along the South Coast, the closest being at Dyrhólaey Rock Arch. They spend most of their lives at sea. Whale watching in Breiðafjorður is higher risk, higher reward kind of experience, as compared to Reykjavík or Húsavík. 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. The Atlantic Puffin is most commonly found on the Westman Islands, Iceland. Iceland is, in fact, home to sixty percent of the world’s Atlantic Puffin population: over six million individuals. In most places, there will be markers showing you the closest you can get, so for the safety of everyone involved, follow their guidance. Althoug… Discover all you need to know about Iceland’s most adorable animal. Read more: 5 Things you need to know about Puffins Dynjandi is just a little further away and without a doubt one of Iceland’s most awe-inspiring waterfalls. In clear weather to the north, you will be able to see Mýrdalsjökull glacier, which covers Katla volcano. Seeing these creatures is a blessing, no matter where you are in the world. 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. Most people visiting come only for the novelty of having their passport stamped with the proof they entered a polar region, and are surprised to find the wealth of birdlife present. Reaching Papey Island required you to take a boat trip from the sleepy village of Djúpivogur. You could also jump onto this whale-watching tour in the final months of its season (it runs from November until June) for the same results. I shot these two cuties at Dyrhólaey a short while ago and for your information it was a puffin party for sure. 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. 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. In many of these, you can follow a trail to reach them, without having to book a boat tour. This is an incredible opportunity to connect with nature, but, of course, needs to be done so with respect to the animal. Coming to these cliffs just for the bird-watching is well worth the trip, but thankfully, many other wonders of the Westfjords are close by for when you’ve had your fill. Pretty amazing and probably to attract potential mates. The total population of puffins in Iceland is estimated to be between 8 and 10 million birds. Read on to discover our guide on spending and saving money in Icel... How safe is it to travel in Iceland? Best places to see Puffins in Iceland . The world’s largest puffin colony is actually found in the Westman Islands where you can grab a ferry. Entertainment guaranteed! Though it is available throughout the year, taking this tour between May and September almost guarantees that you will see several islands with thriving puffin colonies. 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. If travelling in summer, then you should make every effort to get to at least one of them; you will not regret it. Two islands out in Faxafloí Bay, Akurey and Lundi, become the nesting grounds for thousands of these darling creatures every summer. Photo from Wikimedia, Creative Commons, by Guillaume Baviere. How long is the period in which you can experience the midnight sun in Iceland? For your best chance at seeing puffins without getting on a boat, you are much better checking out one of the five places listed below. Although your operator will do their best not to disturb any animals, you may see a puffin take off in flight from the ocean, which is quite an entertaining sight. 5 Day Self Drive South Coast Tour | The Golden Circle & Jökulsárlon Glacier Lagoon. With millions of these sweet little birds fluttering around on the coast, finding them might seem easy. If you want to see puffins, you have to head to the Irish coasts – in particular, Ireland’s rugged west coast. These tours do not necessarily market themselves as puffin-watching excursions, as puffins are just an expected part of the experience. Curving out from a row of cliffs into the tumultuous ocean, Dyrhólaey is a fascinating example of Iceland’s dramatic landscapes, shaped over millennia by fire and water. Where is the Best Place to See Puffins by Boat? Avid birdwatchers seeking more than just puffins should head just a few minutes south-east of the peninsula to Víkingavatn, the Viking Lake. Iceland’s puffin season runs from early April through to September. Guidelines for Bird Watching in Iceland May 25, 2020 - More than 60% of the world’s Atlantic puffin population calls Iceland home. If taking a self-drive tour around the whole country, this town will be visited on the day in which you head from the Jökulsárlón/Höfn area to Egilsstaðir, the largest settlement of the east. Best time of the day to spot them is in the morning (07:00-10:00) and in the evening (18:00-22:00). Most importantly, don't Further along the South Coast from Dyrhólaey, between Skaftafell and Jökulsárlón, you can find Ingólfshöfði Cape and Nature Reserve. 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. 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. It is, in my opinion, an extremely cute turf house, buil, Discover the waterfall Gljúfrabúi The great thing about travelling around Iceland are all the different and unique spots and areas you can discover when driving around. After already getting a glimpse of these adorable orange-beaked birds along the cliffs at Dyrhólaey, I was even more thrilled about making the side trip to Borgarfjörður eystri to get a closer look (without the risk of tumbling over a cliffs edge!) There are 3 Puffin species in the world: The Tufted and Horned Puffins of the Pacific Ocean and our Atlantic Puffin. 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. Are the Icelandic roads dangerous? Puffins are visible only during the mating season. Finally, it also provides a better chance to see more of the animals that many hope to catch in Iceland, such as Humpback Whales (which also migrate to Iceland for the summer) and White Beaked Dolphins. The ‘Capital of the North’, the cultural town of Akureyri, is just an hour and a half away. See this. Information on where the best place to see puffins plus tips and information about these beautiful birds, including when to … 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. There are many ways in which you can enjoy the puffins up close. The colonies in themselves are also part of the appeal of these charming birds, as they can number in the tens of thousands. Puffin is a culinary speciality of the Faroe Islands, in the North Atlantic Ocean. They cannot be seen all year, however. The beak fades to gray during the winter but blooms into orange colour in the spring time. Iceland puffins . Iceland Puffins, beyond being adorable, colorful, and fun to watch, are actually mysterious little creatures. If you’ve come to Iceland to see puffins, you’re in luck; 60% of the world’s Atlantic puffins live here. Iceland is the world's puffin capital for sure! There are many museums and natural sites that you can spend hours exploring to learn about all of this colourful past. As you can hear puffins are not only cute, but also quite smart. Up close, you will also see that it has unusual, hexagonal basalt columns, rare formations that can only be found in a few places around the world. The breeding season of puffins stars in early May. Ingólfshöfði has more appeal to it than just its nature. This cluster of 15 islands south of Iceland is the ideal place to spot some cute puffins. These beautiful little birds, with their brightly coloured bills, emotive watery eyes, and clumsy, wobbling walk, are intrinsically likeable creatures, and they are very easy to attribute with human traits. 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. From Akureyri, there is not quite the same centre of puffin life, but there are whale-watching tours that focus on finding seabirds too, such as this one, that will most likely result in you seeing many of these creatures in the seas and on the craggy coasts of Eyjafjorður. R... How expensive is Iceland? Most of these tours will make a stop at Flatey island, which is renowned for the sheer number of puffins that crowd it. The Atlantic Puffin belongs to the Guillemot bird family. 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. Dyrhólaey is the closest to Reykjavik, only 2.5 hours’ drive. There are several advantages to taking a boat tour to see puffins, rather than just walking up to them on the shore. Puffins nest on clifftops in huge colonies, where they each dig a burrow to lay a single egg. Now, it is a paradise of birds (with puffins and guillemots being the main residents) and seals. The birds are at sea for eight months a year but we would be there bang in the middle of puffin season in Iceland. 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. 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. These islands have a fascinating history of runaway slaves, murders of vengeance, pirate attacks and, most recently, an eruption that threatened to engulf the main town. 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. You do not, therefore, want to be responsible for emptying the cliffs at a popular bird-watching destination just because you thought a puffin wanted to be stroked. This occurs throughout the summer; therefore, the puffin-watching season in Iceland lasts from June to September. Best time to see Puffins in Iceland. Read more for the best spot to go for free to have an up-close experience of the puffins in east Iceland. These cases, of course, were particularly exceptional. But in the Westman Islands, residents’ relationship with these iconic birds is changing. Will you need a rental car and how will time restraints shape the nature of your stay? 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