Puffin Island and the Kerry Cliffs from the sea
This boat trip leaves Portmagee and follows the coast to the Kerry Cliffs and Puffin Island. It suits people who want to see seabirds and sea cliffs up close, without the longer crossing to the Skellig Islands.
We arrange this trip on request. The route and the time on the water depend on the weather, the sea and what your group wants to see.
Ask about this trip
The Kerry Cliffs
The Kerry Cliffs are on the mainland, close to Portmagee. They stretch for over 5 km and rise more than 300 metres above the Atlantic.
The rock is Old Red Sandstone. It was laid down in layers more than 385 million years ago, in the Devonian period. From the boat you can see the layers in the cliff face. At the base are sea caves, where the waves have worn the rock away.
Most visitors see the cliffs from the viewing point on land. From the boat you look up at their full height from sea level. Puffins, gannets and razorbills often feed in the water below.
Puffin Island
Puffin Island lies about half a kilometre off the north side of St Finan’s Bay. A narrow stretch of water called Puffin Sound separates it from the mainland. Like the Kerry Cliffs, it is made of Old Red Sandstone, with steep cliffs and grassy slopes on top.
The island is a nature reserve run by BirdWatch Ireland. It is also a Special Protection Area, because more than 20,000 seabirds breed there. It is of international importance for its seabirds.
You cannot land on Puffin Island. Access is by written permission from BirdWatch Ireland only, so we watch the birds from the boat.
Seabirds on Puffin Island
A national survey of seabirds around the year 2000 counted these breeding pairs on the island.
- Manx shearwaters. About 6,300 pairs.
- Storm petrels. About 5,200 pairs.
- Puffins. About 5,100 pairs.
- Fulmars. About 450 pairs.
- Razorbills, guillemots and kittiwakes. Smaller numbers.
Puffins are the easiest to see from the boat. They stand on the slopes near their burrows and gather in groups on the water.
Manx shearwaters and storm petrels nest in burrows and only come ashore at night. During the day they feed out at sea. You may see shearwaters flying low over the waves.
A few pairs of choughs nest on the island too. They are a type of crow with a red beak and red legs.
To learn more, read our guide to puffins on Skellig Michael and our guide to the birds of the Skellig Islands.
When to go
Puffins are on the island from about late April to early August. May, June and July are the best months to see them.
Manx shearwaters and storm petrels breed until late summer. You can see the Kerry Cliffs from the sea at any time of year when the weather allows.
Booking this trip
We arrange this trip on request. Call or email us with your dates and the number of people in your group, and we will tell you what is possible.
- Phone. +353 66 948 8022
- Email. info@skelligmichael.ie
All trips depend on safe sea conditions. If we cancel for weather, we offer you another date or a full refund.
Frequently asked questions
Can we land on Puffin Island?
No. The island is a nature reserve, and landing needs written permission from BirdWatch Ireland. We watch the birds from the boat.
Is this trip suitable for children?
Yes, all ages are welcome.
Will we see puffins?
We cannot promise it. Puffins are on the island from about late April to early August, and May to July gives you the best chance.
Can we see the Skellig Islands on the same trip?
Ask us about a private charter. You choose the route, and we tell you what is possible on the day.
Where do we leave from?
All our trips leave from Portmagee Marina. Parking in the village is free. Please arrive 30 minutes before departure. Read our Portmagee guide for directions.
Puffins and the Kerry coast in photos
Sea cliffs on the Kerry coast and puffins on the Skelligs.
