Machias Seal Island is one of the premier wildlife destinations in the northeastern United States — a small, treeless island 10 miles offshore from Cutler, Maine, hosting one of the largest Atlantic puffin colonies on the US East Coast. Every summer, thousands of Atlantic puffins nest in burrows on the island’s rocky slopes, and a small number of visitors each day are allowed to land and observe the puffins from purpose-built wooden blinds at remarkably close range. If puffins are on your list, Machias Seal Island is where you go.
About Atlantic Puffins
Atlantic puffins are black and white birds with brightly colored orange and red beaks, stubby wings they use to fly underwater when diving for fish, and a comically upright posture on land. They spend most of their lives at sea, coming to land only to breed in burrows where they raise a single chick each year. Machias Seal Island hosts approximately 5,000 puffin pairs during nesting season, along with razorbills, common terns, Arctic terns, and common murres. Peak puffin activity is typically late June through mid-July.
Getting to Machias Seal Island
From Cutler, Maine — Bold Coast Charter Company operates tours from Cutler Harbor, about 45 minutes from the island. This is the primary US departure point. Cutler is approximately 1.5 hours from Bangor and 45 minutes from Lubec.
From Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick — Sea Watch Tours operates from North Head on Grand Manan. The island is subject to an ongoing sovereignty dispute between the US and Canada — in practice, the Canadian Wildlife Service manages it as a migratory bird sanctuary.
Booking Your Tour
Book as early as possible. The island has a strict daily visitor limit. Bold Coast Charter Company typically has only a handful of spots per trip, and late June through mid-July dates sell out months in advance. Book a landing trip — not just a cruise-by. The blind experience is what makes Machias Seal Island unique. Book at cutlermainebirding.com.
The Experience on the Island
Visitors are escorted by resident wildlife wardens to wooden observation blinds positioned within feet of active puffin burrows. Inside the blinds, puffins land within arm’s reach, carrying beakfuls of small fish back to their chicks below. You can hear them calling and watch behavior impossible to see from a boat. Most trips give 1.5-2 hours on the island.
In addition to puffins, the island hosts large colonies of Arctic terns and common terns — among the largest tern concentrations in the Gulf of Maine. The terns are aggressive defenders of their nesting territory and will dive-bomb visitors. Wearing a hat is strongly recommended.
What to Bring
- Camera: The blind experience is extraordinary for photography — birds within feet of the lens. A 70-200mm is more than sufficient
- Binoculars: Essential for scanning the water during the crossing and watching birds on the island’s periphery
- Layers: The island is 10 miles offshore and exposed to Bay of Fundy wind and fog — bring more insulation than you think you’ll need
- Motion sickness prevention: The Bay of Fundy can be rough — take appropriate precautions if you’re prone
- Sturdy footwear: Uneven rocky terrain — ankle support is helpful
Weather and Cancellations
Tours are weather dependent — fog, high winds, and rough seas can cancel trips. Fog is particularly common in June and July and can cancel trips even when conditions on shore seem fine. Understand the operator’s cancellation policy before booking and build flexibility into your schedule.
Alternatives to Machias Seal Island
If tours are sold out, Project Puffin (Audubon Society) operates boat tours to Seal Island and Matinicus Rock in outer Penobscot Bay, and to Eastern Egg Rock in Muscongus Bay from New Harbor. These don’t involve landing but offer good puffin views from the boat.
Getting to Cutler
From Bangor, take Route 9 east to Calais, then Route 1 south to Machias, then Route 191 east to Cutler — about 2.5 hours. From Lubec, about 45 minutes via Routes 189 and 191. Fill up with gas in Machias before heading to Cutler.
Plan Your Trip
Ready to see puffins? Book Bold Coast Charter Company tours as early as possible at cutlermainebirding.com. For more Downeast Maine, see our guides to Things to Do in Eastport Maine, Things to Do in Lubec Maine, and our Downeast Maine Road Trip Itinerary.
MaineGuide.com has been helping visitors plan their Maine trips since 1995.