Donelda's Puffin Boat Tours

Donelda's Puffin Boat Tours runs the Cabot Trail's only boat tour to Bird Island, the protected seabird nesting colony in St. Ann's Bay about 20 minutes east of Baddeck. From the government wharf in Englishtown, the 45-foot vessel Highland Lass carries up to 41 passengers on a 2.5-to-3-hour cruise past the shores of the Bras d'Or Lakes and St. Andrews Channel to the puffin colony that draws wildlife watchers from around the world. The operation is a genuine family affair: Donelda MacPherson spent 37 years lobstering these waters with her husband John before buying her own boat and starting tours three decades ago, and she is still the person narrating most departures. Locals and returning visitors know her as the Puffin Lady. For the full picture of puffin watching on the island, see our Puffin Tours Cape Breton guide.

What makes this tour different from other wildlife cruises in Nova Scotia is how close the boat gets to the action. The Highland Lass idles within about 50 feet of the Bird Islands' rocky shores, where hundreds of Atlantic puffins work their burrows, razorbills crowd the ledges, and black guillemots bob in the channels between Hertford and Ciboux Islands. Along the way the crew stops to feed bald eagles from the water, and grey seals haul out on the rocks in numbers that surprise most first-timers. The birding is reliable enough that the tour has become a fixture of Cape Breton summer itineraries; Google reviewers give it 4.8 stars from more than 250 ratings.

The Boat: The Highland Lass

The Highland Lass is a 45-foot, government-inspected vessel licensed to carry 41 passengers, built for viewing rather than speed. Removable windows run down both sides so you can sit in your seat and photograph without fighting the wind, while the stern is open for those who want the full ocean-air experience on a railed platform. There is a washroom on board, and the crew are certified in emergency training. Because the boat is partially enclosed, the tour runs in conditions that would cancel an open zodiac — a practical advantage on the Atlantic coast, where fog and chop can appear quickly.

Boarding happens at the government wharf in Englishtown, a tiny fishing port with a history that dates to 1597. Before you clear the harbour, your guide walks through the settlement's past — the same waters where the French established a fortified mission in the early 1600s, and where the Englishtown Ferry still shuttles cars across St. Ann's Bay today. It is a short, atmospheric preamble that roots the wildlife cruise in the region's story.

The Tour: What You Will See

Departures head east through St. Andrews Channel toward the Bird Islands, a sail of about 45 minutes each way. The boat slows as it approaches the islands and spends a generous stretch idling around them, letting the birds do the entertaining.

Atlantic puffins are the headliners — roughly 300 pairs nest on the islands, and from June through August you will see them coming and going from their burrows, carrying sand lance back to chicks. In early summer the puffins are a study in frantic activity; by late August the fledglings start appearing on the water.

Razorbills nest on the same cliffs, easily told apart from puffins by their black-and-white auk silhouette and thick, blunt bills. Black guillemots are the third regular alcid — smaller, black with white wing patches and bright red feet, often seen in pairs on the water between the islands.

Bald eagles are a guaranteed part of the show. The crew has fed eagles from the boat for years, and the birds know the routine — they drop low over the water to take fish, giving photographers the kind of close fly-bys that are hard to get anywhere else in the province.

Grey seals lounge on the rocks and swim alongside the boat. On a good day you will see a dozen or more, including pups in the late-summer months.

Depending on the day you might also add great cormorants, blue herons, gulls, and the occasional minke whale — the channel between the islands sees them in summer, though whales are never promised.

The People: Donelda and Her Crew

The tour's personality is its biggest draw. Donelda MacPherson grew up on these waters, and her commentary mixes bird identification with lobster-fishing stories, family history, and the working knowledge of a woman who fished St. Ann's Bay for nearly four decades. On the way back to Englishtown she explains a typical day in the life of a lobster fisherman and shows a real lobster trap. Returning guests describe the same thing again and again: the tour feels personal, like being shown around by a friend rather than processed through a commercial operation. She runs the trip with a small crew, keeps narration continuous throughout the sail, and has built a loyal following — many of the online reviews are from repeat visitors who have done the tour in multiple seasons.

Booking, Fares & Practical Details

2026 Fares

• Adults: $74.00 credit card / $70.00 cash
• Seniors: $69.00 credit card / $65.00 cash
• Youth (6-12): $55.00 credit card / $51.00 cash
• 5 & under: Free (lap or same seat as an adult)

Taxes and gratuities are extra, and depending on fuel prices a $3 fuel surcharge may apply to adult and senior fares. A minimum of 10 adults is required per sailing. A credit card is needed at booking time to secure the reservation; your card is not charged until you check in (or fail to show up). Cancellations require 24 hours' notice or the full fare is charged. Payment options are cash (Canadian or US, exchange given), e-transfer from Canadian banks, Zelle for US residents, and Visa or Mastercard.

Season: Tours run mid-June through early September, with the best puffin activity in July and early August when chicks are being fed. Sailings are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in heavy fog or wind; morning departures generally have the calmest seas.

What to Bring: A warm sweater or jacket even on sunny days — it is always cooler on the water. Binoculars make a real difference (the boat stays about 50 feet from the islands), and a camera with a decent zoom will reward you. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and rubber-soled shoes round out the kit.

Booking: Reservations are recommended, and July-August departures fill days in advance. Book through the Book Now page on the official website or call 1-902-929-2563 (toll-free in Canada and the US: 1-877-278-3346). After booking, check your confirmation email before sailing and confirm departure times, which shift with tides and weather.

Getting There: Englishtown sits on Highway 312 off the Trans-Canada Highway (Route 105), about 20 minutes east of Baddeck and roughly an hour from the Canso Causeway. The tour boards at the government wharf in the village; signage directs you to the departure point. Parking is available near the wharf. The same day, most visitors pair the tour with a stop at the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site in Baddeck, a drive up to the Skyline Trail, or a whale-watching run out of Pleasant Bay on the other side of the highlands — see our whale watching guide for timing tips.

Puffinalia: Before you leave, check the souvenir shop at the tour's base — Donelda's stocks what she calls possibly the largest selection of puffin merchandise on the island, from T-shirts and hats to ornaments and plush puffins.

Who It's For

This is a tour for families, birders, photographers, and anyone who wants a Cape Breton wildlife experience with a human face. The partially enclosed boat and steady narration make it one of the most accessible puffin trips in Atlantic Canada — no rough zodiac ride required, and kids under five ride free. The reliable eagle feedings and guaranteed seal sightings mean you will almost always leave having seen something memorable, even on an overcast day. It is best booked early in your Cape Breton trip so you can reschedule if the weather turns, and it pairs naturally with the island's other marine adventures for a full wildlife day.