Are you looking for a unique and exciting experience in Maine? Look no further than going on one of these puffin tours in Maine!
Puffins are beautiful birds that make their home on the rocky coast of Maine. These tours give visitors an up-close look at these majestic creatures, as well as provide stunning views of the area, usually with a knowledgeable tour guide who provides fun commentary.
Whether you’re looking for wildlife photography opportunities or just to take in the beauty of nature, puffin tours offer something unique and unforgettable. In this blog post, we will explore some of the best places to book a puffin tour, which is one of the most popular activities in Maine.
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Best Puffin Tours in Maine
Hardy Boat Cruises
Get ready to experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure if you book through Hardy Boat Cruises! Just 5 miles away from Eastern Egg Rock, New Harbor is the easiest way for you to get close enough and witness these incredible birds in their natural habitat.
As your boat cruises near Franklin Island Lighthouse and Monhegan Island on its path toward EER, take a pause to marvel at breathtaking views of Muscongus Bay paired with awe-inspiring vistas of the Camden Hills.
A visit here isn’t complete until you’ve navigated around this special island—you may spot puffins just 25 feet offshore! Keep an eye out as you may Project Puffin biologists go about protecting local seabird colonies during the breeding season.
This tour is 1.5 hours long and is excellent for all ages. Tickets range depending on if it’s peak or off-peak season (which is July 1 to Labor Day). Dogs are also allowed, but they must be leashed or kenneled.
Acadia Puffin Cruise
On this Acadia Puffin Cruise, climb the deck of Maine’s first puffin boat, Tricia Clark, to take off on an unforgettable two-hour adventure around Petit Manan Island. You’ll be able to admire picturesque vistas of both Bois Bubert and the Wildlife Refuge from the water.
Once you’ve taken it all in with awe-inspiring views atop calm waters – why not go on a hike through the refuge? The tour guides recommend it after the tour, so this is one cruise no nature lover will want to miss out on exploring this natural paradise.
Acadia Puffin Cruises offer other tours throughout the year, too, including private charters as well as lighthouse and seal tours for when the puffins leave for the year.
Bold Coast Charter Co.
Next is Bold Coast Charter Co. which offers puffin tours to Machias Seal Island, which is the biggest puffin colony on the Maine coast. This company has been run by the same family for the last 30 years and counting!
This company is run by Captain Andrew Patterson, and these cruises take place on the Barbara Frost boat from Cutler Harbor. In addition to seeing puffins on a tour out to Machias Seal Island, you may also see guillemots, gannets, eiders, and more.
Unfortunately, due to the popularity of Captain Andrew Patterson’s tours, they are currently fully booked for the summer 2023 season. Be sure to check back next winter for summer 2024 bookings.
Click here to learn more about this tour!
Cap’n Fish’s Cruises
For an unforgettable “Seafari” to Eastern Egg Rock, be sure to sign up for a tour with Cap’n Fish’s Cruises. Eastern Egg Rock is a spot of true wonder filled with majestic seals, elegant blue herons, and rare whales!
Along the way, you will be transported as their dedicated guides from National Audubon’s Project Puffin fill your hearts with stories about their incredible work as well as history of puffins regarding the restoration.
You can also expect to encounter stunning lighthouses, including Ram, Burnt, and Pemaquid Point – all while seeing many islands along Maine’s rugged coastline! For memories that last forever, this is an excellent tour option.
Similar to Hardy Boat Cruises, Cap’n Fish’s Cruises does have peak and off-peak pricing. Prices are lower if you book for a date outside of July 1 to Labor Day.
Robertson Sea Tours
Join Captain Robertson on the Kandi Leigh for an unforgettable 2.5-hour tour of Petit Manan Island, a national wildlife refuge and home to over one century’s worth of history!
Marvel at landmark sights – including Atlantic Puffins from mid-May through mid-August – while sailing by breathtaking landscapes. In addition to these special creatures, you’ll also catch glimpses of roseate terns, razorbills, black guillemots, and storm petrels, among others, around the island.
Rates are around $100 for adults and $65 for children under 12. When booking online, you can check out the schedule and reserve your seats, as well as see photos of puffins.
Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co
On this puffin lighthouse cruise with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co., embark on an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime voyage to explore the breathtaking natural beauty of Maine’s coasts!
Cruise along Frenchman Bay and out into the Gulf of Maine aboard a sleek catamaran with an experienced crew. Look closely at Egg Rock island – a home for cormorants, gulls, and majestic eagles – as well as other wildlife in their sanctuary refuge.
Then make your way to Petit Manan Island, towering above the sea with its iconic lighthouse (the second-tallest in Maine). It’ll be memories you will never forget!
The duration of this tour is 2.5 to 3 hours, and it’s available seasonally from mid-May to mid-August. Pricing ranges between $24 to $64 depending on age. It’s highly recommended that you bring a pair of binoculars for this tour so you can see the puffins even better; they are also available for rent onboard.
Acadian Boat Tours
Last but not least is Acadian Boat Tours. Board the M/V Eden Star and explore Frenchman Bay and the Gulf of Maine, where three majestic lighthouses await your arrival – Petit Manan Lighthouse (a prime spot for spotting puffins from May to August!), Mark Island Light, Egg Rock Light. Go in search of eagles at Schoodic Island too!
Take advantage of this unique opportunity to witness waterfront wildlife, including seals, osprey, harbor porpoise, and more, during this scenic ride along Acadia National Park‘s shoreline with knowledgeable guides.
This tour is about 3.5 hours long, and pricing ranges between $42 to $63, depending on age. It departs from Bar Harbor, Maine’s Atlantic Oceanside Hotel!
Puffin tours in Maine offer a unique and memorable experience for nature lovers of all ages. Whether it’s your first time seeing puffins or if this is an annual family tradition, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the natural beauty of Maine with one of these guided tours.
So what are you waiting for? Get ready to embark on a magical adventure and book your next puffin tour today!
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Amy Hartle is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of New England With Love, a comprehensive resource for travel in the New England region. Amy has been exploring New England since 2001. She lived in Vermont for many years and is a graduate of Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. Amy has been writing about travel for over a decade. On this site, Amy aims to share her love of New England and help you to have the best possible adventures!
Amy has been a full time blogger since 2012, and is also the publisher of Two Drifters, where she writes about couples travel and relationships, as well as Let’s Adventure Baby, a family travel site. When not traveling the world or creating epic blog content, Amy can be found cuddling with her husband, son, and cats, & drinking a maple latte.