Latrabjarg Cliffs: See Puffins and Birds in Iceland's Westfjords

I've never been so close to puffins in the wild as I have at the Latrabjarg Cliffs in the Westfjords of Iceland. Most people skip the Westfjords when they travel to Iceland. It's not located on the Ring Road, and it's way more isolated and far from the most popular destinations.

I wouldn't suggest venturing to the Westfjords if you're only spending a short time in Iceland, like 3 days, 5 days or even a week. When we traveled to Iceland for two weeks, it allowed us enough time to drive to the Westfjords for an overnight trip. This meant driving to the westernmost point of Iceland and our main reason for visiting the Westfjords, the Latrabjarg bird cliffs.

The Westfjords are arguably more rugged than many other regions of Iceland. It's a remote region, less people live there, and the roads are less travelled. The drive to Latrabjarg took up most of our day, but I think it's well worth the journey. After all, it's home to millions of nesting seabirds and adorable puffins.

Getting There

We started our day in Hvammstangi, a small town in northwest Iceland just off the Ring Road. From there, Justin and I began the drive to the Westfjords and Latrabjarg Cliffs.

While most of the roads were paved and there's no need for a 4x4 vehicle, it's not somewhere that you can rely on a day trip tour operator to take you. For this reason, you will need to rent a car and visit on your own. I recommend renting a car in Iceland because I loved the freedom of going wherever we wanted, when we wanted. Find the best rates on car rentals here.

The drive from Hvammstangi to the Latrabjarg Cliffs took about seven to eight hours on steep and winding roads. In poor weather conditions like rain, snow or ice, the roads could get quite treacherous or even become closed. Check the road conditions in advance before you head out for the day.

For the majority of the driving, we didn't see any other cars or people. It felt like we were completely on our own. The scenery of the Westfjords is so stunning. We really enjoyed the views the entire way: beautiful valleys, snowy landscapes, and pale sand beaches. There's even a shipwreck to see once you get closer to the Latrabjarg Cliffs.

Make sure you fill up your gas tank when you can. Gas stations are few and far between in remote areas of Iceland, especially the Westfjords. We almost ran out of gas at one point in southeast Iceland, and we weren't about to let that happen again. Fill up your tank in Flókalundur as that's the last gas station between Flókalundur and Latrabjarg.

Latrabjarg Cliffs: The Westernmost Point of Iceland

After driving down the last road leading to the edge of the country (the only gravel road we encountered), we had reached the Latrabjarg Cliffs. These cliffs are astonishingly beautiful.

These are gigantic and extremely steep rock formations that are 14km long and 440 metres high, making it Iceland's largest sea cliffs. And yes, there are tons of puffins living here! Besides puffins, there are millions and millions of other nesting birds at Latrabjarg. You can see razorbills, arctic terns, white-tailed eagles, guillemots, gannets, and others.

Since 2021, Latrabjarg Cliffs are a protected area of Iceland. Do not attempt to fly a drone here since it will disturb the millions of nesting birds.

We walked along the cliffs to appreciate the epic scenery. Make sure to keep a safe distance from the edge. All we could hear was the sounds of birds all around, echoing off the rocks. It was quite amazing.

We hiked a little ways from the Bjargtangar parking lot through the grass and near the cliffs. We saw many other birds besides puffins, huddled into their homes in the rocks. Justin and I even saw some birds sitting on eggs in their nests. It's fascinating to see so many birds living in their natural habitats, wild and free as nature intended.

Bjargtangar Lighthouse

Looking to see puffins? You're guaranteed to see them here! In Latrabjarg, I saw the most puffins I've ever seen in my life. It's also the closest I've ever been to puffins.

Atlantic puffins nest at these cliffs between mid-May and September, and there are up to 10 million of them in Iceland. This is where they raise their chicks. In the winter, the puffins go back out to the sea.

You can also view puffins at the Westman Islands and near Puffin Island in Husavik. There are slightly higher numbers of puffins (1.1 million) that breed and nest at Vestmannaeyjar - Westman islands, so I suggest planning a trip there, too.

While the puffins are used to seeing humans and will let you get close to them, give them some space and don't get too close. Stay at least a few metres back and use the zoom on your camera to take photos.

Don't try to touch the birds or pet them. Puffins have a protective oil gland for when they swim in the ocean, and petting them could remove that vital oily layer.

These cliffs are fragile. Don't get too close to the edge as the rocks can easily break away and you could fall. It's tempting to get close to the puffins and the edge of the cliffs, but for your safety (and the puffins' well-being), please stay back.

As we approached the edge of the cliff, I looked down and saw a puffin sitting right there. He (or she!) was sitting right in front of me, and not even batting an eye. The puffins here are extremely tame and gentle.

Bjargtangar Lighthouse

Aside from the Latrabjarg Cliffs and the millions of birds, there's another interesting structure here. The Bjargtangar Lighthouse marks the westernmost point of Iceland and it also happens to be the westernmost building in Europe.

The light station was established in 1913. The building that currently exists is a white, concrete lighthouse that was built in 1948. The tower itself is not open to visitors, but you can see the outside of it perched on the edge of the cliffs.

Where to Stay in the Westfjords

After our road trip through the Westfjords to the Latrabjarg Cliffs, we stayed at a hotel that wasn't too far in the town of Patreksfjörður. Fosshotel Westfjords is a modern and spacious hotel situated in a small town setting.

Our room was a quiet retreat that was perfect for a restful night's sleep. The hotel is located near the town where there are a few restaurants, though the hotel has its own restaurant if you feel like staying put.

We stayed here for one night, arriving after dinner. As we spent the majority of our time on our Westfjords road trip, we essentially used this hotel as just a place to sleep before continuing on our journey the next day. We highly recommend choosing this spot as your home base in the Westfjords or simply spending the night like we did. Book your stay here.