What time of year can you see puffins in Iceland?

summer
The best time to see the puffins in Iceland is the summer. They arrive in May and leave in late August. The colony is usually the most active in the evenings. The birds stand outside of their burrows, resting on the grass before heading out to sea to where they spend the night roosting.

Where can I see puffins in Iceland?

Best Places to See Puffins in Iceland

• Akurey and Lundey. Only have a few days to spend in Iceland?
• Westman Islands.
• Ingólfshöfði Nature Reserve.
• Papey Island.
• Borgarfjörður Eystri.
• Tjörnes Peninsula.
• Látrabjarg.
• Breiðafjörður.

Are puffins still hunted in Iceland?

Puffin hunting is legal in Iceland, and the bird is served as a local delicacy at restaurants around the country. Erpur Snær Hansen, director of Nátturustofa Suðurlands (The South Iceland Nature Institute), says puffin numbers have dropped since 2003, though they remain the largest stocks of any bird in Iceland.

Where do Iceland puffins go in winter?

They recovered 19 of the geolocators last year, finding that puffins spend most of their winters out at sea.

How do you see puffins in Reykjavík?

Yes, you can see puffins from Reykjavík. Most people think they need to go much further to see puffins, but you can see them on islands in Faxaflói bay. You can reach the islands by taking a 15 minute boat ride from Reykjavík harbor. Puffins nest on a few islands in Faxaflói bay, including Akurey and Lundey Island.

How long do the puffins stay in Iceland?

Puffins can be seen in Iceland from early April until September each year. There are more than one puffin species but the one that breeds in Iceland is the so called Atlantic Puffin.

Is it easy to see puffins in Iceland?

There are a lot of places in Iceland where you can see puffins fairly easily. We list 14 such places around Iceland. But some of the best known spots are the Westman Islands (south), Borgarfjörður Eystri (east), Grímsey (north), and Látrabjarg cliffs (Westfjords).

Do puffins live in Iceland?

Most of them are settled in Vestmannaeyjar – Westman Islands, 10 kilometers from Iceland’s south coast. In the Reykjavík area, puffins are settled on Akurey and Lundey, also known as “Puffins islands,” and summer tours to these cutie birds are a must.

Do Iceland eat puffins?

Puffin. Icelanders also, according to legend, sometimes eat the friendly seabird puffin. Visitors can actually order them in many tourist restaurants in Reykjavík, usually smoked to taste almost like pastrami, or broiled in lumps resembling liver.

Why do Icelanders eat puffins?

In the past, coastal communities had to make due with all available resources, so puffins were often hunted. Today they are protected in most countries, aside from Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

How long do puffins stay in Iceland?

Where to see Puffins in Iceland in the summer?

Borgarfjordur Eystri (Borgarfjörður) is one of the top spots to see puffins in Iceland in the summer. Visit with us Borgarfjordur, a small village famous for wonderful scenery and nesting birds.

How do I get to borgarfjordur Eystri?

Drive carefully as there are no barriers along the way. Once you reach the coastline, it is only a short drive to Borgarfjordur Eystri. If you plan on seeing the puffins straightaway, you need to drive past the village until you reach the very end of the road.

What to do in borgarfjordur?

Visit with us Borgarfjordur, a small village famous for wonderful scenery and nesting birds. Our travel guide includes tips on how to visit Borgarfjordur fjord, how to get there, where to stay, and what is the best way to see and photograph the colony of puffins.

What is a puffin bird?

Puffins are cute birds that are pretty small, usually around 29 cm, they weight up to 500 grams and their wingspan can be up to 65 centimeters. These birds can be found in North Atlantic, and you can observe them not only in Iceland but also in Greenland, Faroe Island, or Norway just to name a few locations.