The Best Places To See Puffins

Looking for one of the most charismatic, captivating creatures in the wild? Look no further than the puffin. But what are the best places to see puffins? Often nicknamed the “sea parrot” or the “clown of the ocean,” these small, distinctive seabirds steal the show with their vibrant orange feet, striking triangular beaks, and surprisingly comical waddle. For many travelers, spotting a puffin in its natural habitat is a bucket-list experience.

The quest to find these adorable birds can take you to some of the world’s most dramatic and rugged coastlines. This guide from YoHo Travel is your definitive resource, revealing the absolute best places to see puffins across the globe, focusing primarily on the widely distributed Atlantic Puffin and the less common Horned Puffin.

While their breeding grounds span the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans, seeing them requires perfect timing. The key takeaway? You must plan your trip for the late spring and summer months—typically May through August—when they return to land to nest and raise their young.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you from the volcanic cliffs of Iceland to the scenic islands of North America, offering essential tips on logistics, gear, and responsible viewing, ensuring your puffin encounter is truly unforgettable.

Best Places To See Puffins: Atlantic Puffins

The Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) is arguably the most famous and widely distributed of the four puffin species. It is instantly recognizable by its striking beak colors during the breeding season and its dense, waterproof plumage. The majority of the world’s population resides across the North Atlantic islands and coasts, making these regions prime viewing territory.

Iceland: The Puffin Capital of the World

Iceland is non-negotiable for any serious puffin enthusiast. Home to an estimated 60% of the world’s entire Atlantic Puffin population, it offers both sheer quantity and incredible accessibility and this is why it is at the top of the list for best places to see puffins.

• Primary Colony: Heimaey, Westman Islands: While puffins can be seen across the island, the Westman Islands off the southern coast are the densest location. You can witness large colonies here, often with birds nesting mere feet from viewing points.

• Why It’s Great: The sheer scale of the colonies is astounding. At famous spots like the cliffs of Látrabjarg in the Westfjords, thousands of birds crowd the steep slopes, offering dramatic photo opportunities.

• Best Time to Visit: Mid-May to mid-August. July is generally the peak viewing month.

• Logistics Tip: When visiting cliff-top sites like Látrabjarg, always heed warning signs and never venture too close to the edge. Puffins dig burrows deep into the soil, and stepping on the unstable ground near the edge can lead to dangerous collapses.

The United Kingdom: Coastal Sanctuaries with Close Access

The UK’s rugged coastlines and protected islands provide some of the world’s best chances for incredibly close, land-based puffin encounters.

• Primary Colony: Skomer Island, Wales: This island reserve manages its puffin colony beautifully. Visitors here often report that the birds are so accustomed to people that they will walk right past you on the footpaths, offering an unparalleled opportunity to admire them.

• Why It’s Great: On islands like Skomer and the Farne Islands in England, conservation efforts have made the birds remarkably unafraid of humans, leading to exceptional viewing proximity.

• Best Time to Visit: Late April to late July.

• Logistics Tip: Access to Skomer and the Farnes is highly regulated to protect the birds. Boat tickets and landing passes often sell out weeks or months in advance, so pre-booking is essential.

Norway: Remote and Rugged Fjords

For a viewing experience set against a backdrop of deep blue fjords and snow-capped peaks, Norway offers several spectacular, though often more challenging, but it is still one of the best places to see puffins.

• Primary Colony: Runde Island (Fugløya) Located off the coast of Sunnmøre, Runde is an internationally recognized bird island, home to an estimated 500,000 to 700,000 seabirds, including large colonies of puffins.

• Why It’s Great: The views are breathtakingly beautiful, combining the unique geography of the Norwegian coast with dramatic wildlife viewing. It’s also an excellent spot to potentially see other species, such as Gannets and Sea Eagles.

• Best Time to Visit: May to August.

• Logistics Tip: Viewing requires a short, moderate hike up to the cliffs. The best time to see the birds return to their burrows is usually in the late evening, around 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM (given Norway’s summer daylight).

North American Puffin Hotspots

North America is unique in that it is home to all three puffin species: the Atlantic, the Horned, and the Tufted (the latter two are Pacific species). This diversity makes it a crucial destination for birders aiming to see them all.

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada: North America’s Largest Colony

As the official provincial bird, the Atlantic Puffin reigns supreme in Newfoundland, where the colonies are nothing short of monumental. That’s why it makes it on the list of the best places to see puffins.

• Primary Colony: Witless Bay Ecological Reserve: This reserve, consisting of four islands (Gull, Green, Great, and Pee Pee), hosts the largest puffin colony in North America, with hundreds of thousands of birds returning each summer. The sheer density of puffins here is a spectacle rivaling Iceland.

• Why It’s Great: The size of the colony ensures you will see countless birds flying, swimming, and carrying beaks full of fish. The area is also famous for whale watching, often resulting in a two-for-one wildlife experience.

• Best Time to Visit: Late May to early September.

• Logistics Tip: Viewing is almost exclusively done by boat tour, as landing on the islands is restricted. Tours depart frequently from Bay Bulls, just a short drive from St. John’s. For a close, land-based view, consider a trip to Elliston Point on the Bonavista Peninsula.

Maine, USA: The Southernmost Nesting Site

Maine is the proud home of the only confirmed nesting sites for Atlantic Puffins in the continental United States, a testament to decades of tireless conservation work by Project Puffin. So Maine is one of the best places to see puffins in the U.S.

• Primary Colony: Machias Seal Island This small, disputed island (claimed by both the US and Canada) offers one of the most intimate viewing experiences.

• Why It’s Great: Visitors are allowed to land and wait in wooden observation blinds (hides) to view the puffins from just a few feet away. This is unparalleled for photographers.

• Best Time to Visit: Early June to mid-August.

• Logistics Tip: Tours to Machias Seal Island are highly exclusive and strictly limited in capacity (often only 15 people per day). You must book months in advance. For easier access, boat tours around Eastern Egg Rock are widely available from various ports like Port Clyde and New Harbor.

Alaska, USA: Home of the Horned and Tufted Puffins

To see the other two species, the adventure takes you to the rugged, remote coasts of the North Pacific. Alaska’s coastal national parks are the best places to witness the Horned Puffin and the striking, blonde-tufted Tufted Puffin.

• Primary Colony: Kenai Fjords National Park The cliff faces and small islands within this park, particularly the Chiswell Islands, are nesting grounds for both Pacific species.

• Why It’s Great: You get to see the Horned Puffin, which, unlike the Atlantic, prefers to nest in rock crevices rather than burrows. The Tufted Puffin, with its wild yellow ear-tufts, is a spectacular sight.

• Best Time to Visit: Late May through August.

• Logistics Tip: Viewing is best done via long-range boat tours departing from Seward. Be prepared for potentially rougher seas on the Pacific side.

Essential Puffin Watching Tips (The Puffin Code)

A successful puffin encounter depends not only on where you go but how you prepare. These tips are crucial for your safety and, more importantly, for the protection of these amazing seabirds.

Timing and Tides

• The Golden Window: We can’t stress this enough: The only time puffins are ashore is during their breeding season, generally May through August. If you visit outside this window, the cliffs will be empty as the birds return to the open sea.

• Best Time of Day: While they are active all day, the most spectacular viewing is often when they return to feed their chicks. This happens primarily in the early morning and the late afternoon/early evening when they fly in with mouths full of fish (often called “fish runs”).

Your Essential Gear Checklist

Puffin-watching often involves cold, windy, and wet coastal environments. Dress accordingly!

• Optics: Binoculars are non-negotiable, especially for boat tours. If you’re serious about photography, a telephoto lens (200mm or longer) will help you capture those close-up portraits without needing to approach the birds.

• Clothing: Dress in layers. A waterproof, windproof outer layer is essential. The weather changes quickly on these coastal islands.

• Footwear: Wear sturdy, waterproof hiking boots with good traction, as the terrain around nesting cliffs can be muddy and uneven.

Responsible Viewing (Respect the Puffin Code)

Puffins are protected birds. Following simple guidelines ensures they remain safe and undisturbed.

• Stay on Marked Paths: Puffins dig their burrows underground, and stepping off the path can collapse a nest, killing a chick or egg. Never walk or stand on areas not designated for visitors.

• Avoid Sudden Movements or Loud Noises: While puffins are often curious, sudden disturbances can cause mass panic and scatter the birds. Move slowly and quietly.

• Do Not Feed Them: Feeding wildlife disrupts their natural foraging behavior and can lead to dependency or health problems.

• Respect the Distance: Never attempt to approach, touch, or handle a puffin. If a bird approaches you (as they sometimes do), consider it a special gift, and enjoy the moment without moving toward it.

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The Best Places to See Puffins Conclusion

The search for the puffin is one of travel’s most rewarding adventures. Whether you choose the massive colonies of Iceland and Canada, the intimate viewing blinds of Maine, or the wild, remote fjords of Norway and Alaska, you are guaranteed an unforgettable wildlife experience. Seeing these charismatic birds, so dedicated to their annual migration and chick-rearing duties, is a powerful reminder of the importance of coastal conservation. So

Which puffin paradise will you choose first? Go out there and explore the best places to see puffins.

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