Puffins & Machias Seal Island
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Adults $199
Price per person
- Season: June 25 – July 31
- Length: 5.5 hrs approx
- Max # People: 20 people
Puffins & Machias Seal Island Tour
Sea Watch Tours to Puffins & Machias Seal Island: This unique tour offers a heaven for avid bird watchers. Thousands of pelagic birds make their home here during nesting season, including the Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill Auk, and Common and Arctic Terns. Only a few hundred feet wide, this little mile-long island in the lower Bay of Fundy is a must-visit. During the non-nesting season, the two lighthouse keepers are the only island occupants and have maintained the lighthouse for over 100 years on behalf of the Canadian Coast Guard.
This beautiful island is where you can spot approximately 5000 pairs of puffins, 1000 pairs of razorbill auks, and 500 pairs of common murres. Although Common and Arctic terns used to nest here, they haven’t in recent years, and it remains unclear why. You can also spot a range of other birds on the trip out to the island, such as Shearwaters (Greater, Sooty, Manx), Wilson Storm Petrels, Phalaropes, Jaegers (Pomarine, Parasitic), Northern Gannet, Black Guillemots, and Eider Ducks.
Sea Watch Tours has exclusive access to Machias Seal Island, where only 15 visitors are allowed to land each day. Sea Tours operates tours to the island six days a week.
As one of the privileged guests, first mate and crew, enlightens you about the sanctuary’s guidelines and is your guide throughout your visit. You’ll be taken to enclosed blinds, perfect spots for close-up views of the birds. The charming puffins often come as close as 3-6 feet from the blinds offering ample photography chances. Alternatively, you can also view them from the skiff, a 16′ outboard motor boat used by the tour to shuttle people to the shore. After years of dedicated observation, Captain Alec has even learned to call these cute creatures!
We’ll take a peek at a nearby seal colony to snap some great pics after we leave the island. The curious seals will probably come over too! You might even get a new seal pal who wants to join you in the skiff! Come check out Sea Watch Tours!
NOTE: LANDING IS AT YOUR OWN RISK
Landing on Machias Seal Island with Sea Watch Tours is an adventure. It requires some physical agility but nothing to fear. We’ll transfer you from our 45′ vessel to our 16′ skiff. From there, we’ll carefully guide you over some slippery seaweed-covered rocks before heading to the orientation area. We do need good sea conditions for a safe tour, though. If conditions are unsafe, the tour may be canceled.
Our online calendar is now available for reserving your puffin or whale tour. Just click on “Reserve Here” at the top of the page to visit the puffins or whales with us this summer.
Details
When planning a tour to Grand Manan Island, there are several important factors to consider to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience. From the requirement for an overnight stay to alternative options for touring the island, understanding the logistics and details of the tour can help you make the most of your visit. In this breakdown list, we will go over the key details you need to know before embarking on a tour of Grand Manan Island, including requirements, logistics, and alternative options. Whether you’re interested in birdwatching, hiking, or simply enjoying the island’s natural beauty, understanding these details can help you plan a successful trip.
Overnight Stay Requirement
- If the tour departs at 7:00 AM, guests must be on Grand Manan the night before.
- If the tour departs at 1:00 PM, it will return at 6:30 PM, and the last ferry from Grand Manan departs at 7:15 PM.
- The dock to ferry terminal in North Head is a 20-minute drive away.
- If there is space available, guests may be able to leave on that ferry, but it is recommended to make overnight plans.
Tour Length and Departure Times
- The tour is approximately 5.5 hours long.
- Departure times may change due to weather conditions.
- If poor sea conditions prevent landing, the price will be adjusted accordingly.
- For those who go ashore, one hour in the blind is usually provided, but this may vary depending on landing/sea conditions.
Alternative to Going Ashore
- An alternative to going ashore is to go around the island in the skiff (16' boat).
- The large boat takes all 20 people to the island.
- The skiff is used to transport the 15 people ashore and then takes the remaining 5 people for 50-60 minutes.
- The same number of birds can be seen from the skiff, and sometimes the puffins are closer to the skiff depending on sea conditions.
- Guests booked for the skiff are automatically on the waiting list for any available shore spots, in order of their booking date.