Puffins and Pirates ATV Tour

by Volcano ATV · Puffins · ATV & buggy · Reykjavík

5.0(4) · tour · TripAdvisor4.90(84) · operator on Google
Puffins and Pirates ATV Tour — Volcano ATV

Would this be cheaper direct? No — we sell at Volcano ATV's own price and take our commission from them, not from you. What you get here is one checkout across operators, one confirmation, and one place to change or cancel it. If you ever find it cheaper on their own site, tell us and we will match it or explain why we cannot.

More photos of Puffins and Pirates ATV Tour

Puffins and Pirates ATV Tour, photo 6

6 photos from Volcano ATV. Tap any one for the full-size original.

  • Duration

    1 hour

  • Difficulty

    Easy

  • Season

    May – Sep

  • Starts in

    Vestmannaeyjabær

  • Meeting

    Meet on location

  • Languages

    EN, IS

  • Departs

    11:00, 16:00

  • Minimum age

    6

  • Cancellation

    Free until 24h before

Our take on this one

An hour on a quad around Heimaey, on pavement the whole way — no off-roading — taking in Elephant Rock on the west coast, the cliffs at Stórhöfði where the puffins nest, and the sites of the 1627 raid in which pirates carried off a large part of the island's population. Admission to Herjólfstown, the reconstructed turf settlement, is included, as are overalls, gloves and helmets. Puffins are in Iceland roughly from May to August, so this runs in summer and the birds are wild — the cliffs are where they live, not a display. Two departures, 11:00 and 16:00, minimum age six. You need to reach the island first, by ferry or plane.

Book it if
Families on Heimaey for the day who want the puffin cliffs and the island's history without walking to either.
Skip it if
It is a road tour, so the ATV is transport rather than adventure — and no one can promise the birds are on the cliff the hour you arrive.

Written by us, from the operator's own details and what we know of the route. We don't take a fee for a good word.

About this experience

Discover Vestmannaeyjar, where beauty meets history. Home to the world's largest puffin colony, this tour offers an up-close look at these charming birds, along with fascinating facts about them. Vestmannaeyjar also boasts a rich history of pirate encounters, and you'll visit famous sites where these clashes occurred, hearing thrilling stories along the way.

We'll begin our journey by driving to the west coast, stopping at the iconic Elephant Rock. Then, we'll head to Stórhöfði, were you'll see the puffins up close, observing their playful behavior as your guide shares interesting insights.

Next, we'll follow the path of the pirates, visiting the site of the 1627 invasion and exploring locations where locals defended themselves. Finally, we'll end at Herjólfstown, delving into the lives of Icelandic pirates. This family-friendly tour combines stunning scenery with captivating tales of puffins and pirates.

This is a non-offroad tour driven on pavement only.

Description from the operator, Volcano ATV. Prices and availability in the booking panel are live.

Included

Overalls
Gloves
Helmets
Admission to Herjolfstown

Not included

This is a non off road tour - driven on pavement only

Good to know

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not stroller accessible
  • Not suitable for pets
  • Infants must not sit on laps
  • Infant seats unavailable
  • Bookings from passengers on cruise ships – If cruise ship cannot enter Vestmannaeyjar due to weather or other circumstances – 70% Refund of booking

Cancellation for this tour

Free cancellation until 24 hours before departure; no refund after that. If the operator cancels for weather or safety, you get a full refund or a new date.

If the weather cancels this tour

Iceland's weather is real. What usually stops this one is sea state — the skipper decides an hour or two before departure. Here is exactly what happens to your booking.

  1. 1Volcano ATV decides, and tells us. Operators cancel when it is unsafe or pointless, and we back that call every time — we do not ask them to run anyway.
  2. 2We contact you by email, and by phone if your tour is the same or next day. You choose: another date if there is one you can make, or a full refund. There is no fee and nothing to argue.
  3. 3The refund goes back to the card you paid with, through Stripe, usually visible within a few working days. If this tour was one of several in your booking, the others are untouched.

What you do not get is the day back. If this is the only free day in your plan, put a spare day next to it — the planner leaves days free with the rest-day option. And if you want out because the forecast looks bad, that is your own cancellation: free until 1 day before departure, the operator's policy after that.

Questions on the day: [email protected] · +354 497 1373. How cancellations work in Iceland →

Why this one and not the cheaper one?

The nearest cheaper Guided Tour from SEA LIFE TRUST Beluga Whale Sanctuary is €49 — €86 less. Here is every difference we can actually measure.

Volcano ATV · €135SEA LIFE TRUST Beluga Whale Sanctuary · €49
How long it runs1 hour0.75 hours

The €86 buys you 0.3 more hours out. Whether that is worth it is your call — but that is what the difference is.

Sold out on your date?

Seats come back — a cancellation, or the operator adding a vehicle. Tell us the date and we will check once a day and email you if one opens. One email, then we delete the address; nothing else is ever sent to it.

Who this is not for

  • Children under 6 cannot join this one.
  • Not available in winter; the operator runs it roughly May to September.

Read off the operator's own conditions. If none of it applies to you, this is a good one.

Why we list it

Volcano ATV is one of 154 operators we work with — chosen for reliability, honest descriptions and how they treat guests when weather changes plans. We don't list everything; we list what we'd book ourselves. The six checks every operator passes →

What travellers say about Volcano ATV

Read all 84 reviews on Google →

Operator rating 4.9/5 from Google — these are reviews of the company, not this specific tour. Shown as Google returns them, unedited.

  • Shena Scott

    ★★★★★ · a month ago

    Such an awesome ride and Kam was an amazing guide! Great to ride through the lava fields and learn the incredible history. Five stars all the way☺️!

  • Paula B

    ★★★★★ · 4 months ago

    We had a Fantastic time with Volcano ATV in the Westman Islands! We did Volcano ATV tour. Our guide Mar was so fantastic! She adjusted to the group skill level and interests on the fly, a skill of an expert guide. Mar told us such interesting stories of the islands, and the ATV’ing was a lot of fun. Best of both worlds! I highly recommend.

  • Kristján Jóhann Bjarnason Ökukennari

    ★★★★★ · 2 months ago

    Very safe, fun, professional and knowledgeable tour. Our guide V was very friendly and knowledgeable about the island and history. Will definitely recommend this to anyone

  • Sherri Lawrence

    ★★★★★ · a year ago

    This tour was one of the highlights of our Iceland trip. My friends and I sent our husbands golfing, and went on this tour together. Our guide, Mar, was absolutely amazing. She was energetic, obviously enjoyed her job, and was knowledgeable when we asked her dozens of questions about the area. We will be talking about this tour for years, definitely a trip to remember!

Reviews from Google · updated 13 Sept 2026

Read before you book

Reviews from our travellers

Only people who booked this tour through us can write here. We publish every review in full — good or bad.

No reviews yet from our travellers on this one. After your tour we send one email asking how it was, and what you write goes here, unedited.

Puffins — questions people ask

When can you see puffins in Iceland?

Mid-April to mid-August. Puffins arrive at the nesting cliffs in April, hatch chicks in June and leave for the open sea by late August. July is the safest month for numbers and for chicks being fed. Outside this window there are none on land, and a tour sold as a puffin tour in October is a boat ride. Reykjavík puffin boats usually run May to August; check the tour page for the exact dates each year.

Can you see puffins from Reykjavík?

Yes. Two small islands in Faxaflói, Akurey and Lundey, hold puffin colonies ten to fifteen minutes by boat from the Old Harbour. One-hour trips like Elding's classic puffin watching (/experience/1299/) circle the islands slowly; you do not land. Bring binoculars, because the boats keep a respectful distance and puffins are small. It is the easiest puffin option in Iceland and a good fit for children or a spare hour before dinner.

Where is the best place to see puffins up close?

On land, at a cliff, not from a boat. Látrabjarg in the Westfjords, Borgarfjörður eystri in the east and Dyrhólaey on the South Coast let you sit a few metres from birds that ignore you. Vestmannaeyjar has the largest colonies. Reykjavík boat trips are convenient but distant. If you are travelling the Ring Road in June or July, the puffin tour from Seyðisfjörður (/experience/973294/) gets you to the eastern cliffs with a guide.

Are puffin boat tours good for kids?

Yes, mostly. They are short, an hour or so, and stay in the sheltered bay, so seasickness is rarer than on a three-hour whale trip. Children usually enjoy the boat as much as the birds. The downside is distance: puffins look like specks without binoculars, so ask if the boat has some to borrow. Combined whale-and-puffin trips (/experience/1569/) run six hours, which is long for under-eights.

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Pairs well with

Everything here goes into the same basket and the same single payment, however many operators it comes from.

from

€135 per person

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