{"id":9848,"date":"2020-07-29T16:07:57","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T14:07:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/?p=9848"},"modified":"2025-05-24T16:39:24","modified_gmt":"2025-05-24T14:39:24","slug":"puffins-ingolfshoefdi-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fernwehmotive.de\/en\/puffins-ingolfshoefdi-island\/","title":{"rendered":"With Tractor and Hay Cart to the Puffins of Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i"},"content":{"rendered":"

Iceland.<\/strong> In the southeast of Iceland there is a very special birdwatching tour. It goes with tractor and hay wagon over the black sand surfaces up to the cape Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i. Here on the remote headland Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i thousands of seabirds nest, among them numerous puffins. An amusing tour, informative and with great views, photo opportunities and a bit of history lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Unassigned, unpaid advertising. The article contains affiliate links.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Blick
The cape is only 76 meters high, but the view is simply fantastic.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Where is Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i and how do you get there?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i is an offshore island on the southeast coast of Iceland between Skaftafell and J\u00f6kuls\u00e1rl\u00f3n. The island is isolated in the middle of the black sand and only its southern tip borders the sea. It is of volcanic origin and was once surrounded by the sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cape Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i is privately owned. You can only visit it as part of a guided tour <\/strong><\/a>. This tour is offered from May 20th to August 20th by a family member of the Hofsnes farm. At the end of August the puffins leave Cape Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i and stay on the sea until the next breeding season. There are several departures a day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Puffin
Something you want to tell me, little Puffin?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Duration: <\/strong>2.5 hours, including about 1.5 hours on the island
Route:<\/strong> 2-3 kilometres on foot
Ride with the hay cart:<\/strong> 25 minutes (6 kilometers) one way
Costs:<\/strong> approximately EUR 57
Highlights:<\/strong> amusing tour over the Sander, spectacular views, puffins, skuas, local history<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get to the starting point for the puffins tour to Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i, you drive about 24 kilometres east on the ring road from Skaftafell. From here a gravel road marked Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i turns right. Follow the road for another 2 kilometres to the parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The sign at the junction from the ring road cannot be missed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The tractor for the Puffin-Tour is already waiting at the meeting point.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Next to the hut is a whale skeleton.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Collected flotsam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Birds at Cape Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Due to its remote location, Cape Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i has developed into an important breeding area for seabirds. Every spring thousands of birds come here to raise their chicks. The plateau is overgrown with grassland and is a nesting place for the ground-breeding skuas<\/strong>. Countless puffins <\/strong>move into their breeding dens on the slopes of Cape Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i in spring. In addition, kittiwakes, fulmars, black guillemots and razorbills<\/strong>nest on the steeply sloping rocks. In 1978 the island was declared a nature reserve to provide them with adequate protection. In earlier times, birds and birds' eggs were an important food supplement for the local population. Despite the protected status, eggs may still be collected in limited quantities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The thought that people still collect eggs and eat puffins makes my heart heavy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The cape offers not only many breeding places for the birds on its cliffs but also a great panoramic view over the endless beach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A view almost too good to be true. Only the puffin in the foreground is still missing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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With Tractor and Hay Cart to the Puffins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Endless black Beach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Birdwatching in a different way: With the tractor and hay wagon you go over the black mudflats, through tideways and over wide sandy areas<\/strong>. I am so excited by the vastness of the landscape<\/strong>, that I don't even notice how the tyres of the hay wagon spray black mud on my feet. Exactly where I stand, the floorboards of the hay wagon gape apart and give way to my bright red - now mud-grey - hiking boots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Trecker
The tractor pulls us effortlessly through the black mud.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After 25 minutes we reach the bird mountain. The plateau of the island is 76 meters high, 1.200 meters long and 750 meters wide. It is surrounded by steep cliffs and can only be climbed from one side over a large dune. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ing\u00f3lfur Arnarsson<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before we go on to the birds, our guide tells us about Ing\u00f3lfur Arnarsson. Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i is not only an interesting place because of its birds. It also plays an important role in the history of Iceland. In 874 A.D. the first settler of Iceland, Ing\u00f3lfur Arnarsson<\/strong>, spent his first winter here with his family. A memorial stele <\/strong>reminds of Ing\u00f3lfur. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Denkmal
When Ing\u00f3lfur settled here, the surroundings were certainly greener.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shortly afterwards we come to the first nesting holes of the skuas and discover the first chicks. The parent birds vigorously defend their nesting meadow and we carefully retreat a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Skua
A skua chick - so cute!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Skua
But the skua parents are watching out.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shelter and Lighthouse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The next stop is a small hut <\/strong>from SAR Iceland. This was built in 1912 by a merchant from Reykjav\u00edk as an emergency hut for shipwrecked people. It is also used by birdwatchers as accommodation. At Cape Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i there is also a lighthouse <\/strong>and a beacon for aviation. The lighthouse was built in 1916 and renovated in 1948. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Leuchtturm
Lighthouse of Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Schutzh\u00fctte
Refuge of SAR Iceland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Puffins from Ing\u00f3lfsh\u00f6f\u00f0i<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The highlight of the tour is not far off. We see our first puffins.<\/strong>. A magnificent guy, who proudly presents us his captured sand eel in his beak. Here on the grass slopes there is a lively coming and going. We see many parent birds with their sand eels disappearing into the breeding dens. Some puffins, on the other hand, are sitting in front of their breeding den and are probably thinking about what to do next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Puffin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Puffin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Puffin<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Detour to the Sea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We circle the plateau and descend again to our tractor. But before we leave we make a small detour to the sea and see the bird rocks again from below. For the following return trip I look for a dry place for me and my red shoes on the hay wagon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"weite
The drive over the outwash plain alone is worthwhile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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What should I wear?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As always in Iceland, you should be prepared for any weather. Since the location of the cape is very exposed, you should be prepared for wind and bring something windproof and waterproof to cover yourself. You should also bring a sandproof bag for your camera, as sandstorms can sometimes occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"weite
Good that the path is marked. This is not a good place to get lost in fog.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Book Recommendations for Iceland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Do you want to know where the journey is going? Then I can recommend this travel guides* to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can order the travel guides on Amazon by clicking on the pictures. If you buy a product via an affiliate link, I get a small commission and you help me to keep filling Fernweh-Motive with interesting articles. This does not make the product more expensive for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Guided Tours in Iceland<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don't feel like wandering around on your own and would rather join a guided tour in Iceland? Nothing could be easier. If you book an excursion via the following affiliate links, you will support Wanderlust Motifs with a small commission. The tour will not be more expensive for you. Merci!<\/p>\n\n\n

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