Travellers to Iceland quite often content themselves with seeing the island of Papey from a distance. In fact, this little island in the eastern part of the East Fjords is uninhabited and serves as a safe haven for seabirds—particularly for the star of these parts, the puffin, which comes to nest in complete peace for the summer.
I was able to go to Papey one summer thanks to an excursion leaving from Djúpivogur. On the list of things to do: seeing the seals that lounge about on the coast and the puffins that fly just above the sea, as well as a two-hour walk on the island to go and see the only building besides the lighthouse: a little wooden church, introduced as the oldest and smallest church in the country.
A visit to this island is especially recommended for bird lovers and for those who want to see the birds up close, even though the cliffs of the East Fjords are full of places where you can see puffins.