Fifteen kilometres west of the Nordkapp cliff, the Gjesværstappan islands hold one of Norway's largest seabird colonies. The numbers are staggering: close to a million puffins nest here from April to September, making it one of the biggest puffin colonies in Northern Europe. Northern gannets first appeared in 1978 and have since built one of Norway's largest colonies, alongside tens of thousands of kittiwakes, cormorants, common guillemots, and fulmars.
The islands, a cluster of steep, grass-covered rocks called Storstappen, Kjerkestappen, and Bukkstappen, have been a protected nature reserve since 1983. Between mid-June and mid-August, no one is permitted to set foot on them. But you do not need to land; boat safaris from the fishing village of Gjesvær take just ten minutes to reach the colonies and circle the cliffs at close range. Most trips run 1.5 to 2 hours.
Gjesvær itself is a working fishing village of around 100 people on the northwest tip of Magerøya. It is a 35-kilometre drive from Honningsvåg and the opposite direction from the Nordkapp tourist traffic, which means most visitors to the North Cape never know this exists. For anyone with even a passing interest in birds, Gjesværstappan is worth more than the cliff itself.
The islands, a cluster of steep, grass-covered rocks called Storstappen, Kjerkestappen, and Bukkstappen, have been a protected nature reserve since 1983. Between mid-June and mid-August, no one is permitted to set foot on them. But you do not need to land; boat safaris from the fishing village of Gjesvær take just ten minutes to reach the colonies and circle the cliffs at close range. Most trips run 1.5 to 2 hours.
Gjesvær itself is a working fishing village of around 100 people on the northwest tip of Magerøya. It is a 35-kilometre drive from Honningsvåg and the opposite direction from the Nordkapp tourist traffic, which means most visitors to the North Cape never know this exists. For anyone with even a passing interest in birds, Gjesværstappan is worth more than the cliff itself.
