Puffin & Gufufoss Waterfall Tour from Seydisfjordur Port

The puffins are the main event here, and at Hafnarhólmi you can see these comical seabirds nesting on a rocky islet rather than merely spotting a distant dot with binoculars. The route also gives you a good look at East Iceland’s quiet fjords and small fishing settlements.

I like the way this tour pairs wildlife with Lindarbakki turf house, a rare glimpse of older Icelandic home life. I also like the stop at Gufufoss, where fine spray hangs around the waterfall and the short walk offers a calm finish to a busy day.

The trade-off is simple: you spend a lot of the five hours on the bus. The drive to the puffin site can feel long, especially in poor weather, though the scenery and guide’s stories help. At $213 per person, this is worth considering mainly if close puffin views are high on your Iceland list.

Key points to know before you go

• Hafnarhólmi is the star stop: The rocky islet holds a large summer nesting colony, with puffins, kittiwakes, and gulls visible from close viewpoints.
• Expect a long scenic drive: The route includes about an hour to the northeastern region, another 25-minute ride, and a longer 70-minute return leg from Lindarbakki to Gufufoss.
• Your guide shapes the day: Anna, Berglind, Eva, Petra, Denis, and Ritchie have all been named positively for local stories, folklore, humor, and practical help.
• Borgarfjörður Eystri is small and quiet: You get colorful houses, a fishing-village setting, and views toward Álfaborg, the legendary home of the elf queen.
• Gufufoss is a peaceful final stop: Plan on a short walk and photo time beside the misty waterfall.
• Bring rain gear and sturdy shoes: East Iceland can be wet and windy, and the tour includes outdoor viewing and walking.

Why the puffins make the long ride worthwhile

From the cruise terminal at Ferjuleira 5 in Seyðisfjörður, the bus heads toward Borgarfjörður Eystri. The drive is not a quick transfer to one nearby attraction. It is a full regional outing, with fjord views, open country, steep roads, and changing weather along the way.

That distance matters. The puffin colony at Hafnarhólmi is the reason this tour reaches into a quieter corner of East Iceland, far beyond the immediate port area. If you want wildlife without arranging a separate multi-day stay, this is a practical way to reach one of the area’s best-known puffin-watching sites during a cruise call.

At Hafnarhólmi, you get about an hour for wildlife viewing and photographs. The islet is home to thousands of nesting puffins during the summer season. You might also see kittiwakes and gulls, adding more movement and noise to the scene.

Puffins are small, quick, and surprisingly entertaining. They perch, fly in low over the water, and gather around their nesting areas. The appeal here is the setting as much as the birds: you are looking across a rocky coastal site with the wider fjord country behind it.

The viewing area gives you a better chance of seeing the birds up close than a general roadside stop would. Still, this is wildlife, not a staged show. Weather, light, and bird activity can change the experience from one day to the next.

A scenic ride through East Iceland

The first major driving section lasts about an hour, followed by roughly 20 minutes of sightseeing in the northeastern part of Iceland and another 25-minute ride toward Hafnarhólmi. The total travel time is a real part of the experience, so set your expectations before booking.

I would choose this tour if you enjoy seeing the countryside from a bus window. The road brings you through remote East Iceland, where the sense of space is one of the main attractions. Guides often use the ride to explain local places, culture, and folklore.

Several guides have received especially warm praise for making the drive feel less like dead time. Anna was singled out for her friendly manner, while Berglind was praised for being warm, funny, and full of stories. Eva was also noted for bringing Icelandic culture to life. Petra, Denis, and Ritchie were praised for clear information and an attentive approach.

The guide assigned to your departure may differ. That matters because the quality of the commentary can shape how you experience the long stretches between stops. Recent departures also had drivers such as Kuba, Cuba, and Torve, with particular praise for safe handling on steep or difficult roads.

The bus has free WiFi, which is useful during the longer sections. You may also hear music or get updates through a WhatsApp group, depending on the guide and departure arrangements. Do not count on food or drinks being provided, so plan around that limitation.

Hafnarhólmi and the summer puffin colony

The hour at Hafnarhólmi is the clearest reason to book. This small islet is known for a dense nesting colony, and the viewing area lets you watch the puffins without needing a boat trip.

Bring a camera, but do not spend the entire stop looking through a screen. Puffins are easy to miss when they are flying, then suddenly appear perched nearby with their bright bills and upright stance. You will get the most from this stop by allowing time to watch their behavior rather than rushing through a checklist of photographs.

The site is also appealing if you are not a dedicated birdwatcher. The birds are expressive and easy to enjoy, and the surrounding coast gives you a strong sense of place. The stop lasts long enough for you to look around, take pictures, and wait for a good view.

Weather can change the mood quickly. Mist, wind, and rain may make photography harder, but they are part of East Iceland’s coastal conditions. Wear waterproof outer layers and shoes that can handle wet ground.

Borgarfjörður Eystri, colorful houses, and elf folklore

After the puffin stop, the bus makes a short five-minute ride to Lindarbakki in Borgarfjörður Eystri. This small fishing village is one of the tour’s most pleasant contrasts to the open coast.

The village has colorful houses set against raw, rugged scenery. You get about 40 minutes here for photographs, free time, and sightseeing. That is not enough for an extended village walk, but it is enough to slow down after the wildlife stop and take in the setting.

Borgarfjörður Eystri also adds a cultural layer to the day. Nearby Álfaborg, known as Elf Rock, is traditionally said to be home to the elf queen. The story is folklore rather than a standard historic attraction, but it gives the area a distinctly Icelandic character.

You may also have views over the fjord and surrounding mountains from this part of the route. The appeal is quiet and local, not a packed attraction with rows of shops. If you prefer small settlements and stories tied to the land, this stop will likely stay with you.

The short visit means you should listen carefully to the guide’s instructions. The time can pass quickly between photographs, the turf house, and views toward Álfaborg. Guides have used this portion to explain local traditions and folklore, which is one reason the tour can feel more substantial than a simple wildlife transfer.

Lindarbakki turf house and older Icelandic living

Lindarbakki is a classic turf house and one of the more distinctive stops. Turf was once used as a practical building material in Iceland, helping homes retain warmth in a demanding climate. The structure gives you a visual connection to a time when daily life depended heavily on local materials and careful shelter.

The stop is mainly for photos, sightseeing, and free time. Do not expect a large museum visit or a long indoor tour based on the available details. Think of Lindarbakki as a brief, memorable look at traditional architecture.

I like this stop because it keeps the day from becoming only about scenery. The puffins are exciting, but the turf house gives the route a human scale. You see how Icelandic homes once fit into the conditions around them, rather than simply looking at mountains and water from a bus.

If you are interested in architecture or local history, use the guide’s commentary here. The structure is small, so the explanation is likely to be more useful than a long visit would be. Keep your camera ready, but take time to notice the turf, shape, and setting.

Gufufoss is a quiet finish

The longest return section runs about 70 minutes from Lindarbakki to Gufufoss. That is the part most likely to test your patience. Several travelers found the drive long, even while enjoying the scenery, so this is not the right excursion if you want frequent stops and constant activity.

The payoff is Gufufoss, a serene waterfall reached after a short five-minute bus ride from the previous point. You get around 20 minutes for a photo stop, sightseeing, and a walk.

Gufufoss sends a fine mist into the air, creating a softer, quieter feel than a huge, thunderous waterfall. The sound of falling water makes a good closing note after the busy puffin site and the long drive.

You will not spend hours hiking here. The stop is designed as a compact visit, so use the time for a short walk, photographs, and a close look at the water and spray. In damp weather, the mist and rain can make the ground slippery, which is another reason to bring proper shoes.

Guides, drivers, and the human side of the tour

The strongest part of this excursion, apart from the puffins, is often the people leading it. Guides named Anna, Berglind, Eva, Petra, Denis, and Ritchie have been praised for friendly conversation, local facts, folklore, and a good sense of timing.

That last point matters on a shore excursion. You need a guide who keeps the group moving without making every stop feel rushed. Some departures have included several scenic pauses, which helps break up the long road sections.

Drivers also have an important role. Roads around East Iceland can be steep and difficult, especially in mist or rain. Kuba, Cuba, and Torve were specifically praised for safe driving and for handling challenging conditions with care.

There have been a few rough edges. The pickup area can feel confusing when several buses are leaving for different excursions. One departure lost about 25 minutes while people waited for the correct group, so arrive with your booking details ready and confirm the bus before settling in.

One isolated complaint involved a bus door not being opened promptly during rain. That is not the usual picture given by the feedback, but it is worth remembering that small service problems can feel larger when the weather turns wet.

Is $213 a fair price?

At $213 per person, this is not a cheap port outing. The price pays for a five-hour guided trip, cruise-terminal pickup and return, transport into a remote part of East Iceland, an English-speaking guide, and access to several very different sights.

The value depends on what you want from your port day. If you mainly want a short waterfall visit near Seyðisfjörður, this will feel expensive and too bus-heavy. If your priority is seeing puffins at a major nesting site, the price becomes easier to defend because reaching Hafnarhólmi takes time and transport.

You also avoid having to coordinate several separate stops on your own during a fixed cruise schedule. The guide handles the route, commentary, and timing, while the driver takes on the difficult roads.

There are limits. Food and drinks are not included, and the tour does not promise an extended meal stop. The long bus sections reduce the time available at each attraction. At Lindarbakki you get about 40 minutes, at Hafnarhólmi about an hour, and at Gufufoss about 20 minutes.

I would call it good value for a cruise passenger who considers the puffins a once-in-a-lifetime sight. It is weaker value for someone who dislikes long drives or wants a flexible, slow day.

Who should book this East Iceland excursion?

You should consider booking if you want:

• Close views of puffins during the summer nesting season
• A guided route into a remote part of East Iceland
• A mix of wildlife, folklore, village scenery, architecture, and a waterfall
• Pickup and return at the Seyðisfjörður cruise terminal
• An English-speaking guide who adds context during the drive
• A structured half-day excursion that fits within a five-hour window

I would be cautious if you have trouble sitting on a bus for long periods. The route includes several substantial driving sections, including a 70-minute ride before the waterfall stop. You also need to be comfortable walking outdoors in rain or wind.

Children under two are not suitable for the activity. For everyone else, comfortable shoes and rain gear are the sensible basics. The tour can be canceled up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, which helps when cruise schedules are still being finalized.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if Hafnarhólmi’s puffins are the main reason you want to explore beyond Seyðisfjörður. The bird colony is the high point, and the combination of Lindarbakki, Borgarfjörður Eystri, Álfaborg, and Gufufoss gives you more variety than a simple puffin transfer.

Skip it if you want a short, relaxed outing with little time on the road. The bus journey is substantial, and $213 is a serious price for a day that includes only a few main stops.

For the right person, this is a strong use of a port day: well-organized transport, striking East Iceland scenery, good local stories, and a close look at puffins in a memorable coastal setting.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

The tour starts and finishes at Ferjuleira 5 in Seyðisfjörður, with pickup and drop-off at the cruise ship terminal.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts five hours.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live tour guide speaks English.

Will I see puffins up close?

The tour visits Hafnarhólmi, a small islet with a large nesting colony of puffins during the summer. The stop includes about one hour for wildlife viewing and photographs.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes and rain gear. The tour includes outdoor wildlife viewing, a waterfall walk, and sightseeing in changeable Icelandic weather.