Comino Private Boat Tour in Malta

Malta’s best swimming stops fit into one hour. This private Comino boat tour takes you to the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto Reef, and St. Mary’s Tower without tying you to a large ferry schedule. I like the small private setting and the chance to stop for swimming and snorkeling at several beautiful spots. I also like that the boat includes shade, comfortable seats, a sun deck, a cooler, snorkeling equipment, and a Bluetooth speaker.

The main point to consider is safety. One critical account described the captain as too laid back and not fully professional, leaving the passenger uneasy on the water. That concern should not be brushed aside, especially on a small private boat. Ask clear questions about the skipper and safety arrangements before you set off.

Key points to know before booking

• Four Comino stops in about 60 minutes: You receive roughly 20 minutes at both Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, then 10 minutes each at Cominotto Reef and St. Mary’s Tower.
• The advertised price is not the full cost: The base price is $70.89 per group of up to five, but fuel and a professional skipper each cost an additional €40.
• Private means only your group joins: This is useful for families or friends who want control over the pace, music, and swimming stops.
• Shade and snorkeling gear are included: A canopy, cooler, safety equipment, comfortable seating, and a sun deck make the boat more practical for a short outing.
• The Blue Lagoon is the main swimming stop: Its clear water, sandy bottom, and surrounding rock make it feel like a natural swimming pool.
• Weather matters: The tour can be canceled in poor conditions, with a different date or a full refund offered.

What the one-hour route really gives you

This is a compact trip, not a full-day cruise. The timing adds up to about one hour: 20 minutes at the Blue Lagoon, 20 at Crystal Lagoon, 10 at Cominotto Reef, and 10 at St. Mary’s Tower. That makes the experience easy to fit into a busy Malta schedule, but you should expect quick stops rather than long, lazy hours in the water.

I see the route as a sampler of Comino. You get a famous swimming spot, a quieter-looking lagoon, a reef with a cave, and a historic tower. The boat keeps moving, so you see several sides of the island without spending the day aboard.

The private format can be a real advantage. With space for up to five people, you are not sharing the boat with a large crowd, and your group has a more personal setting. You can use the Bluetooth speaker, settle under the canopy, or move up to the sun deck. Still, a private boat is only as good as its skipper and equipment, so the safety concern deserves attention.

Blue Lagoon: 20 minutes in Comino’s famous water

The Blue Lagoon is the heart of the excursion. The water is unusually clear and shifts through bright shades of blue. A sandy bottom gives parts of the lagoon the feel of a giant natural pool, while rocky cliffs frame the edges.

The lagoon also carries a small piece of Malta’s past. In the 1500s, the Knights of St. John used Comino as a place for leisure and hunting hares and wild boars. It is easy to picture how quiet this part of the islands must have been before modern boats and day trips arrived.

Your 20-minute stop is best used with a plan. You can swim, sit on the boat, or use the included snorkeling equipment. If you want time in the water, change and organize your belongings before reaching the lagoon. Twenty minutes passes quickly, especially if you spend the first few minutes getting ready.

The beauty comes with a practical limitation. The Blue Lagoon is the most famous stop, so it can feel busy, even though this tour is private. The boat gives you a better platform for viewing and swimming than a large shared ferry, but it cannot make the whole lagoon private.

Crystal Lagoon: sheltered water and a cliff-jumping option

Crystal Lagoon offers a different setting, though it has the same clear water that makes Comino famous. It is sheltered and accessible only by boat, which gives the stop a more enclosed feel than the open shoreline.

The lagoon is known as a place for cliff jumping. That does not mean you should jump automatically. Check the water and follow the skipper’s directions before attempting anything, and remember that conditions can change. The supplied information does not specify jump heights, designated platforms, or supervision, so treat this as an optional possibility rather than a promised activity.

You receive about 20 minutes here. That is enough for a swim or a quick look beneath the surface with the snorkeling gear, but not enough for an unhurried session if your group needs time to enter and leave the water.

I like this stop because it adds variety. The Blue Lagoon is the well-known showpiece, while Crystal Lagoon gives you another sheltered place to enjoy the sea. If swimming is your main goal, these two stops account for 40 of the tour’s 60 minutes.

Cominotto Reef: a small beach and a swim-through cave

Cominotto Reef sits across from the Blue Lagoon. Its rocky structure includes a small sandy area and a cave that you can swim through to reach the open sea. The cave connects the island’s beach side with the water beyond, creating one of the more distinctive moments on the route.

The stop lasts about 10 minutes, so you should keep your expectations realistic. This is a quick feature, not a long beach visit. If you want to swim through the cave, listen closely to the skipper and consider the conditions before entering.

The reef also shows why comfortable seating and easy access to snorkeling gear matter. You can stay aboard and enjoy the view, or use the short stop for a quick swim. The private boat gives your group room to decide, but the limited time means you should not expect a full exploration of Cominotto.

St. Mary’s Tower: a defensive landmark on the final stop

St. Mary’s Tower, also called Comino’s Tower, dates to 1618. Grand Master de Wignacourt ordered its construction as a defense and communication link between Mdina and the Citadel in Gozo. Its purpose was to watch for pirates and corsairs and help protect the island.

The tower adds historical weight to what could otherwise be only a swimming trip. You are not just moving from one patch of blue water to another. You are also seeing how Comino fit into Malta’s defensive system.

The stop is scheduled for about 10 minutes. There is no admission charge to explore the interior, though donations are welcome. The short timing may limit how much you can see, and the tour information does not guarantee a guided visit inside. If the tower is open and your group wants to look around, use the time efficiently.

For me, this is a useful final stop because it breaks up the swim-heavy route. It also gives you a reason to look beyond the water and think about the islands’ military past.

What is included on the private boat

The boat is equipped for a short, active outing rather than a catered cruise. Included features are:

• A canopy for shade
• Comfortable seating areas
• A sun deck
• An ice cooler
• Safety equipment
• Snorkeling equipment
• A Bluetooth speaker
• WiFi on board
• Private transportation
• Port fees

The canopy matters in Malta’s strong sun, particularly when you are wet and sitting on the boat between stops. The cooler is useful for keeping your own drinks chilled, but you need to bring those drinks yourself.

Food and beverages are not included. That means no bottled water, soda, snacks, breakfast, lunch, brunch, or dinner. Alcohol is also excluded. Pack water and something small to eat if you need it, and do not assume the boat will provide refreshments.

The Bluetooth speaker is a pleasant extra for a private group, while WiFi may be useful for checking messages between stops. Neither feature should be the main reason you book. The real value lies in the boat, the route, and the freedom to enjoy Comino with only your own group.

The real price: $70.89 plus €80 in listed extras

At first glance, $70.89 per group of up to five looks very attractive. Split among five people, the advertised portion works out to about $14.18 each. That is strong value for a private boat, at least on paper.

However, the listed price does not include €40 for fuel consumption and another €40 for a professional skipper. That adds €80 to the advertised amount. You should calculate the full price before booking, then divide that total by the number of people in your group.

The value improves with a full group of five. For two people, the additional fees make the per-person price much higher, though you still receive a private boat and private transportation. For a family or group of friends, avoiding a crowded shared boat may justify the added cost.

I would treat the extra skipper charge as especially important. The information describes a professional skipper as an additional cost, and one safety-related account raised concern about the captain’s relaxed approach. Confirm exactly who will operate the boat and what the extra fee provides. A low headline price is not useful if the final arrangement feels unclear.

Safety deserves more attention than the music or WiFi

Most of the appeal here comes from being close to the water, but that also makes safety central. One account rated the experience three out of five and described feeling unsafe because the captain seemed too casual and not sufficiently professional. That is a serious practical warning, even though the overall rating is 4.6 from 17 ratings.

The boat does include safety equipment, which is reassuring, but equipment alone is not enough. You want a skipper who gives clear instructions, handles the boat confidently, and takes swimming and cliff jumping conditions seriously.

Before departure, ask:

• Who is the professional skipper?
• Is the €40 skipper fee required?
• What safety equipment is on board?
• Where should you sit while the boat is moving?
• Are swimming and cliff jumping allowed only after the skipper checks conditions?

If the answers are vague, I would consider a larger shared operator instead. A big ferry is less personal, but some people will prefer its more formal operating structure. The private format is appealing, yet it requires you to pay attention to the quality of the operator.

Who will get the most from this Comino trip?

This tour suits a small group that values privacy and wants a quick introduction to Comino. A family of up to five can use the flexible boat setting, while friends may appreciate the speaker, swimming stops, and ability to share the boat without strangers.

It also works well for people with limited time in Malta. In about an hour, you see four named sights and reach two of the island’s best-known lagoons. The route is efficient, but it is not designed for people who want to spend a whole afternoon at one beach.

Strong swimmers and confident snorkelers will get the most from the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Cominotto Reef. If you prefer to stay dry, the canopy, seating, and tower stop still give you something to enjoy, though swimming is clearly a major part of the experience.

Most people can participate, and the tour is near public transportation. The supplied details do not give further information about wheelchair access, boat boarding, or facilities, so ask before booking if those points affect your plans.

Booking timing, weather, and cancellation

The tour is often booked about 15 days ahead, so reserving early is sensible if you have fixed Malta dates. Confirmation normally arrives at booking, unless you reserve within two days of departure. In that case, confirmation can take up to 48 hours and depends on availability.

This experience requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the tour, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, and the cut-off uses local time.

Those rules make it wise to keep a little flexibility in your schedule. Comino is exposed to changing sea conditions, and a clear morning does not always guarantee a smooth outing.

Should you book the Comino private boat tour?

Book it if you are a group of up to five, want a short private outing, and care most about seeing several Comino highlights in one compact trip. The Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon provide the main swimming appeal, while Cominotto Reef and St. Mary’s Tower add variety. The canopy, cooler, snorkeling gear, and private setting add useful comfort.

I would not book it solely because of the $70.89 headline price. Add the €40 fuel charge and €40 professional skipper charge, then decide if the total suits your group. Most important, confirm the skipper and safety arrangements before paying.

If the operator gives clear answers and the weather is good, this can be a convenient and enjoyable way to sample Comino. If you feel uneasy about the captain or prefer a more formal safety setup, choose a larger shared boat instead. The water will still be blue, and peace of mind is worth more than a private Bluetooth speaker.

FAQ

How much does the Comino private boat tour cost?

The advertised price is $70.89 per group of up to five people. Fuel consumption costs an additional €40, and a professional skipper costs an additional €40.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one hour.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private boat is for your group only, with up to five people included in the group price.

Which places does the tour visit?

The route visits Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto Reef, and St. Mary’s Tower.

How long is the stop at Blue Lagoon?

The scheduled stop at Blue Lagoon lasts about 20 minutes.

How long is the stop at Crystal Lagoon?

The scheduled stop at Crystal Lagoon lasts about 20 minutes.

Can you use snorkeling equipment?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included with the tour.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Bottled water, alcoholic drinks, soda, snacks, breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner are not included.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the tour to be canceled.

Can you cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted, and the payment is not refunded.