Private Boat Trip: Explore Comino, Blue Lagoon & Santa Maria

Comino’s best views are from the water, and this private trip gets you close to the island’s caves, rock formations, and swimming spots without tying you to a large-boat timetable. You can visit Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Maria Bay, Cominotto, and quiet coves in one compact outing.

I like the small private group, which gives you room to play your own music, choose how long to swim, and ask the skipper to slow down for photos. I also like the smaller boat, since it can get closer to cave entrances than larger charter boats. The main catch is the extra fuel charge, and three hours can feel short if you want long swims at several stops.

Quick takeaways for your Comino trip

• Blue and Crystal Lagoons: Swim and snorkel in two of Comino’s most famous clear-water spots.
• A smaller private boat: Get closer to caves and shorelines than you typically can on a large charter.
• Your group sets the pace: Spend more time swimming or move on to see more formations.
• A long list of sights: Visit Santa Maria Bay, Cominotto, Elephant Rock, Lovers Cave, Pigeon Rock, and Saint Nikolaw Creek.
• Useful onboard extras: Expect a sun deck, shade canopy, safety gear, WiFi, Bluetooth music, cooler, and snorkeling masks with snorkels.
• Best for up to six people: At $173 per boat, the price makes more sense when shared by a full group, though fuel is paid separately.

Why a private boat makes Comino easier

Comino is small, but its best places are scattered along a rough, rocky coast. A private boat saves you from choosing just one beach and lets you see the island from several angles in a single three-hour outing.

You are not simply transported to Blue Lagoon and left there. The route includes caves, small bays, rock formations, and swimming stops. That variety is the main reason to choose this trip over a basic transfer or a large sightseeing boat.

The private format also changes the mood. You can request a longer swim, ask for a photo stop, or let the skipper move on when you have had enough sun. Captains named in the tour information include Mario, Joe, and Harry. The feedback attached to the experience repeatedly points to friendly captains who take photos, explain sights along the way, and avoid rushing the group.

That said, a private boat is only good value if you use its flexibility. If you are traveling alone or as a couple, $173 plus fuel may feel steep. For six people, the base price works out to about $29 per person before fuel, which is much more competitive than it first appears.

Blue Lagoon: famous, bright, and often busy

Blue Lagoon is the obvious opening act. Its clear turquoise water and pale rock make it one of Malta’s most recognizable swimming spots, and you will have a chance to see it from the boat before deciding how long to stop.

The appeal is easy to understand. The water is suited to swimming and snorkeling, and the surrounding rock gives you excellent views for photographs. Snorkeling gear is included, so you do not need to bring your own mask and snorkel.

The drawback is that Blue Lagoon is famous for a reason. It can be the busiest part of the trip, especially in the main daytime period. A private boat does not make the lagoon empty, but it gives you more control over when you visit and how long you remain there.

For a calmer experience, ask about an early morning or sunset departure. The tour is offered around those quieter periods, subject to availability and sea conditions. Early light should appeal to anyone who wants softer photographs, while sunset adds a more relaxed feel to the ride back.

Crystal Lagoon: the best place to plan a swim

Crystal Lagoon is known for clear water and a quieter atmosphere than its better-known neighbor. It is one of the strongest reasons to bring swimwear rather than treat this as a sightseeing-only cruise.

Allow enough time here to enjoy the water. One booking group spent about an hour and a half swimming at a particularly good spot before continuing to other sites, showing how much freedom the private format can offer. You will not necessarily spend that long at Crystal Lagoon, since the captain adjusts the route and timing, but the point is important: this is not a rigid stop-and-go circuit.

The included snorkel equipment makes a short swim easy. Bring your own equipment if you have favorite gear, but the supplied mask and snorkel cover the basics. A towel, sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses are essential, since the sun deck leaves you exposed between stops.

Caves and rock formations along Comino’s coast

The boat’s smaller size matters most when the route reaches Comino’s caves. Larger vessels can show you the coast from offshore, but this charter can approach cave entrances and narrow shoreline areas more closely, depending on conditions.

Roofless Cave is especially unusual. Its open ceiling lets daylight into the rock chamber, giving it a different feel from a standard sea cave. The boat may also pass through or near several other caves, each with its own shape and light.

Lovers Cave offers a more enclosed, romantic stop. It is the sort of place that works well for couples, but the appeal is not limited to them. You will get a change of pace from the open water and another chance to see how erosion has shaped Comino’s coast.

Elephant Rock is a natural formation with an instantly recognizable outline. Pigeon Rock gives you another strong photo stop in open water. These formations are brief viewing points rather than full beach visits, so keep your camera ready and listen for the captain’s explanation as you pass.

Santa Maria Bay and Cominotto

Santa Maria Bay provides a quieter contrast to Blue Lagoon. The bay and nearby caves offer scenic water views and a more restful setting, particularly if your group wants to spend less time around the busiest swimming area.

Cominotto, the small islet opposite Comino, adds another perspective. From the boat, you can appreciate the gap between the two landforms and the clear water around them. The stop is about views and atmosphere rather than a long shore excursion.

The exact order is not fixed. Weather, tides, and sea conditions can change the route, and the skipper can alter departure or landing points when needed. That flexibility is useful, but it also means you should not treat every advertised sight as a guaranteed stop in a precise sequence.

Saint Nikolaw Creek and quieter corners

Saint Nikolaw Creek is described as a secluded, calm part of the route. It is a good counterpoint to the famous lagoons, especially if your group values quiet water and a slower pace.

You may spend more time here if the sea is comfortable and your group wants a peaceful swim. Or the skipper may use the time to show you more caves and shoreline features. The private format gives you a say, but the captain remains responsible for deciding what is safe.

This is one of the practical advantages of booking privately. You can tell the skipper what matters most before setting off: swimming, caves, photos, music, or seeing as many points as possible. A three-hour charter cannot maximize all of them, so a clear priority helps.

What the three hours really allows

Three hours is enough for a good overview of Comino, not a full beach day. You can see the main formations, visit several coves, and swim at one or two favored locations. You probably cannot spend a long time at every lagoon and still visit the full list of caves and rock formations.

The experience works best when you accept that tradeoff. If swimming is your main goal, choose one especially appealing lagoon and stay there. If sightseeing matters more, take shorter swims and let the captain keep the boat moving around the island.

The private boat also avoids the feeling of being stuck on board all day. One booking group specifically valued seeing the main views and swimming at Blue and Crystal Lagoons without committing to a full-day boat tour. That makes the trip useful at the start of a holiday, when you want a strong introduction to Malta’s coast but still have time for other plans.

Boat comfort and what is included

The boat provides cozy seating, a sun deck, and a shade canopy. That gives you two sensible choices: sit under cover while moving between stops, or stretch out in the sun when the boat is stationary.

Safety gear is included, along with port and marina fees, lagoon access permits, and taxes. An ice cooler is provided, but food and drinks are not. You need to bring your own refreshments, and barbecue equipment is not included.

The Bluetooth speaker lets your group play its own music, and WiFi is listed onboard. These are pleasant extras, though they should not distract from the basics: bring water, protect yourself from the sun, and keep cash available.

Fishing gear and a separate cooler are not included. If you want a fishing-focused outing, this is not the right charter.

Meeting points, fuel, and timing

Boats leave from two main locations. In Gozo, meet near Sicilia Bella Restaurant at Mgarr Harbour Terminal. In Malta, meet near Cirkewwa’s Kiosk at the Gozo Channel Terminal.

Arrive 30 minutes before departure. That buffer matters because traffic and delays can affect your start, and arriving late will not extend the three-hour charter. Confirm your selected meeting point and time carefully before leaving your accommodation.

The listed rate is $173 per boat for up to six people, not per passenger. A certified skipper with a valid Maltese Sea License is required, and fuel charges are payable separately. Ask for the current fuel cost when booking so the final amount does not surprise you.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. The tour is offered in English and Maltese.

Weather can change the plan

The skipper has authority to cancel, postpone, or modify the trip if the wind, waves, tides, or other sea conditions make the original plan unsuitable. The route, stops, and departure or disembarkation points can also change.

That is not a flaw unique to this boat. Comino is an exposed island, and a cave or lagoon that looks perfect on a calm day may be unsafe in rough water. A flexible itinerary is part of responsible boating.

If the skipper adjusts the timing to find better conditions, treat that as a safety decision rather than a missed promise. You will get the best experience by keeping your schedule reasonably open around the charter.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this outing for a family or group of friends who can share the cost and want privacy. It also suits couples who prefer a quieter, more personal boat ride, particularly at sunrise or sunset.

It is a strong choice if you want to swim, snorkel, take photos, and see caves in the same outing. The captain can also take pictures for you, which is useful when everyone wants to be in the frame.

You may prefer a larger group boat if keeping the price as low as possible matters more than flexibility. A beach-focused day may also suit you better if your main plan is to stay ashore for hours. This charter is built around variety and choice, not one stationary beach stop.

Is the Comino private charter worth booking?

Book it if you are traveling with up to six people, want to avoid a full-day boat commitment, and care about seeing more than Blue Lagoon alone. The smaller boat, adjustable timing, included snorkel gear, and access to caves give it real advantages over a standard large-boat outing.

Before paying, confirm the fuel charge and tell the operator whether swimming, caves, photographs, or a broad sightseeing route is your priority. Arrive early, bring food and drinks, and plan around the possibility of weather changes.

For a group that shares the cost, this is a practical way to see Comino at your own pace. For a solo visitor or a couple on a tight budget, compare the total price carefully. The base rate is attractive when divided among six, but less so once fuel is added to a small booking.

FAQ

How long is the private Comino boat trip?

The charter lasts three hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers one private boat for a group of up to six people.

Where does the boat depart from?

In Gozo, meet near Sicilia Bella Restaurant at Mgarr Harbour Terminal. In Malta, meet near Cirkewwa’s Kiosk at the Gozo Channel Terminal.

What languages does the skipper speak?

The tour is offered in English and Maltese.

Are swimming and snorkeling part of the trip?

Yes. The route includes opportunities to swim and snorkel at places such as Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon. A mask and snorkel are provided.

Is food or drink included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. An ice cooler is provided, but barbecue equipment, fishing gear, and a separate fishing cooler are not included.

Can the trip be changed because of weather?

Yes. The skipper can cancel, postpone, or change the timing, route, stops, and departure or disembarkation points because of weather, tides, sea conditions, or other legitimate safety reasons.