Canada Elliston Puffin Viewing Site
Elliston and Maberly, in the north of the Bonavista Peninsula, are known for a puffin island close to the mainland.
You don't get as close to them here as in Iceland, but they are very nice to watch as a large colony.
You don't get as close to them here as in Iceland, but they are very nice to watch as a large colony.
Photography Tips
Plan with a lot of time and patience if you want to take the perfect photo of a puffin. A zoom lens is also recommended to not disturb the birds and to have more options to photograph them.
If you sit down about 5–10 meters from the edge of the cliff and wait patiently, it’s quite likely that the puffins will land just a few meters away from you. Sometimes it gets so busy there that the puffins retreat to their offshore island. You’ll have the best chance of seeing puffins up close in the early morning and in the evening, when there aren’t as many tourists around, and it’s quieter.
If you sit down about 5–10 meters from the edge of the cliff and wait patiently, it’s quite likely that the puffins will land just a few meters away from you. Sometimes it gets so busy there that the puffins retreat to their offshore island. You’ll have the best chance of seeing puffins up close in the early morning and in the evening, when there aren’t as many tourists around, and it’s quieter.
Travel Information
From the parking area, you have to walk a few hundred meters to a rocky outcropping opposite the bird island.
A path, including steps, was built there in May 2026. This makes it easier and safer to reach the viewing cliff. The area for visitors has also been cordoned off with a rope to give the puffins on the cliff a little more space.
A path, including steps, was built there in May 2026. This makes it easier and safer to reach the viewing cliff. The area for visitors has also been cordoned off with a rope to give the puffins on the cliff a little more space.
Spot Type
Outdoor
Crowd Factor
A decent amount of people
Best Timing
Daytime in summer
Sunrise & Sunset
05:02 - 20:58
| current local time: 01:36
Photo Themes
Animal Photography
Beach
Bird
Birds
Birdwatching
Cliff
Ocean
Puffin
Sea Bird
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