Is the Ingólfshöfði Puffin Tour Worth it? Our Honest Review

Is the Ingólfshöfði Puffin Tour Worth it? Our Honest Review

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The Ingólfshöfði puffin tour was our very first puffin tour in Iceland, and we definitely don’t regret making the move.

The tour wasn’t just about puffins, it was rather a deep dive into the history of the region. It also gave us the chance to observe other seabird species such as the great skua.

Ola and I also loved scenic landscapes while seated on a tractor-drawn hay cart across black sand flats.

puffin-tour-traktor-cart-in-southern-iceland

If you’re planning to join the Ingólfshöfði puffin tour, here’s everything you need to know.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Where is Ingólfshöfði Located?

Ingólfshöfði is a quiet headland in South Iceland. It’s located about halfway between Skaftafell in Vatnajökull National Park and the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, on farm Hofsnes in the county Öræfi, around 350 km east from Reykjavík.

Here’s the location on Google Maps

About the Cape

Ingólfshöfði is a private nature reserve and also a place of old stories. It is named after Ingólfur Arnarson, the first settler of Iceland.

It’s widely believed that Ingólfur spent his first winter here in the year 874 AD.

The cape has thousands of seabirds. Many guests come here to watch puffins but you can also see Great Skuas and other birds that build their nests on the tall cliffs.

The grass fields stay calm and the wide ocean view makes the place feel far from the busy world.

puffin-island-ocean-view

The trip to the cape is also part of the adventure.

You can only reach it by a tractor hay cart. The cart goes for about 7 km across marsh, shallow water and black sand. The ride takes close to 30 minutes each way.

The driver is often from the local family that runs the tour. He also serves as a guide, telling stories along the way.

Ingólfshöfði Puffin Tour Review

  • Availability: May to Aug
  • Duration: 2.5 hours
  • Departs: Ingólfshöfði Hut
  • Level: Easy
  • Minimum age: 6 years

We decided to join one of the evening tours starting at 19:15, as we heard from the owner that it’s the best time for photography and usually a little less crowded compared to other departures.

The trip begins with a ride on a tractor cart that goes across black sand, marsh, and shallow water. This part takes about 30 minutes and gives a special start to the tour. We loved the ride. It felt like a small adventure into a new world.

Once on the island, the guide leads a short hike of about 2-3 km.

puffin-guided-tour-in-southern-iceland

The walk starts with a steep sand hill and some rough rocky ground. After that most of the way is open grassland that feels easy under the feet.

The whole hike takes about 1 and 1/2 hours. There are many breaks where guests can watch birds, take photos and listen to stories about the area.

We had no other expectation from the tour than seeing puffins and taking some nice photos during sunset. At sunset, the land shines in gold and red light which is also a perfect moment for photos.

The guide makes short stops to share stories about the history of the place as well as about the birds. Views from the cliffs are dramatic, and there is plenty of time for photos.

We Loved the Tour

Ola and I loved the tractor ride through the desert at sunset.

We also liked how bird watching covered other bird species, such as great skuas that were even more impressive than puffins.

great-skua

The skuas are nicknamed “pirates of the sea” for their habit of stealing food. 

The nature reserve hike was refreshing. But more than anything else, we loved our guide Einar. His storytelling made the place come alive.

The whole tour was very relaxed and we felt at peace with nature.

It’s important to note that the puffins need a colder climate. So, if the temperature rises and summer is warmer than usual, they may not arrive or arrive in limited numbers.

puffins-of-iceland

Luckily, 2025 was a great season, and we got to see hundreds of puffins.

High Environmental Awareness

We were extremely happy with the product as both environmental awareness and sustainability were on high!

Here is a few points worth mentioning:

  • The tour takes place in a protected nature reserve on Iceland’s south coast
  • Visitors use a low-impact tractor-drawn hay cart to cross sensitive wetlands and sand flats
  • A 2-3 km guided hike follows marked trails to minimize disturbance to vegetation and nesting birds
  • Group sizes are kept small to reduce environmental impact
  • Guides educate visitors about puffins, skuas, and local wildlife to foster respect for nature
  • Visitors are encouraged to dress appropriately and follow guidelines for wildlife protection
  • The tour supports conservation by balancing visitor experience with habitat preservation
  • The experience offers an unforgettable wildlife viewing opportunity with strong ecological responsibility

Ingólfshöfði Puffin Tour Details

Price

  • Adults: 12,500 ISK
  • Children 6-16 years: 6,250 ISK
  • Minimum age: 6 years (not suitable for younger children)

Group Size

The group sizes are relatively small that keeps the tour calm and personal. In our case there was around 20 guests.

Duration

The trip lasts about 2.5 hours including the tractor ride and hike.

What’s Included?

  • Tractor-drawn hay cart ride
  • Guided walk on the cape
  • Sightseeing along cliffs and fields
  • Bird watching with puffins and great skuas
  • Nature reserve visit

Booking

The booking is done online directly through the company’s website. It’s easy to follow.

We had a few additional questions before the tour, and all of them were immediately answered on the phone.

You can check the website for more details.

Operator Info

  • Address: Hofsnes, Skaftafell, 785, IS
  • Phone: +3548940894
  • Email: info@fromcoasttomountains.is

Meeting Point

  • Meeting time: Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure.
  • Meeting point: Ingolfshofoi parking lot 2 km off Ring Road 1. The turn is well marked with a colorful puffin sign. It is a 30 min drive east of Skaftafell and a 30 min drive west of Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon.
  • GPS: 63.879167, -16.659000

Puffin Season

  • Mid May to mid August is the season.
  • Puffins are seen on almost every trip with 99% chance of sightings. The best time is late June to early August when colonies are most active.

Cancellation Policy

  • 2 days or less: 100% fee
  • 7 days or less: 50% fee
  • 14 days or less: 25% fee
  • For updated times, prices, and availability you can check the official booking calendar here.

The Guide

On our tour, we had Einar as the guide. The owner of the business and also a trained mountain guide and skilled photographer.

From the very start, he felt friendly, welcoming, and genuinely passionate about sharing his knowledge.

puffin-tour-guide-iceland

We had a great time with him. By the end of the tour, we had learned a lot about birds, nature, and history. 

Einar’s knowledge and passion made the tour feel special and much more than a puffin trip.

Important Tips

Wear warm clothes even in summer, gloves, and hats. Although we joined the tour in the middle of August and it was a sunny day, it was chilly outside.
The tractor ride is open and lasts 30 minutes. Bring a waterproof jacket and trousers. We also recommend hiking shoes with ankle support due to black sands and water.
The puffin observation happened close to 70m cliffs, please listen to your guide and maintain distance. Exercise extra caution if you go with kids!
Mind your steps as you may trip due to puffin holes that goes deep into the ground and are not well visible. We noticed a few tourists getting stuck in there.
Wear warm clothes even in summer, gloves, and hats. Although we joined the tour in the middle of August and it was a sunny day, it was chilly outside.
The tractor ride is open and lasts 30 minutes. Bring a waterproof jacket and trousers. We also recommend hiking shoes with ankle support due to black sands and water.
The puffin observation happened close to 70m cliffs, please listen to your guide and maintain distance. Exercise extra caution if you go with kids!
Mind your steps as you may trip due to puffin holes that goes deep into the ground and are not well visible. We noticed a few tourists getting stuck in there.

Interesting Facts

  • Iceland has the largest puffin colony in the world, with 60% of the world’s Atlantic puffins
  • Puffins spend most of their lives at sea and only come to land during the breeding season
  • They can dive up to 60m, and can use their wings to “fly” when in water.
  • Their beak color changes with the seasons
  • Puffins return to the same burrow every year
  • A puffin pair lays just one egg in a year. Both parents take turns feeding the chick

Is the Tour Worth it?

The Ingólfshöfði puffin tour is priced at 12,500 ISK for adults and 6,250 ISK for children between 6 and 16 years old.

At first, this may look higher for a bird watching stop, but what you get is much more than that.

The price covers the tractor ride across the sands, the guided hike on the cape, and the chance to see puffins and other seabirds in their natural habitat.

Considering the small group sizes, the local family-run operation, and the depth of guiding, the value is excellent.

The tour is worth the money. We would not hesitate to join the tour again!

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FAQ

What’s the best season for puffins?
The best season for puffins is from late June to early August. You can also join in May or early September but puffins are not always as active. We would highly recommend checking with the operator before booking the tour.
Is the Ingólfshöfði puffin tour worth it?
Yes, it’s absolutely worth it. Ola and I were surprised by how rich and diverse the experience was in the end. We got to see a lot of seabirds, we loved the hike and tractor ride, and the tour turned out way more enjoyable than our expectations.

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