Comino: Private Boat Trips, Swimming stops and Caves Tours

Sea days are better when you set the pace. This private Comino cruise gives your group a boat, skipper, swimming stops, and room to change plans, with access from Gozo or Cirkewwa. I especially like the freedom to linger at Crystal Lagoon and the practical setup on the Julie Pearl, including a shaded deck, toilet, shower, cooler, and Bluetooth stereo. The main consideration is price: at $577 per group, it makes the most sense when shared by a larger party.

You can book a half-day or full-day outing, usually from 9am to noon or 10am to 4pm. I also like that the skipper can adjust the timing when availability allows. Just remember that food, drinks, and stand-up paddleboards cost extra, and the trip depends on suitable weather.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for your group: The Julie Pearl can hold up to 25 people, but no more than 15 is recommended for a longer trip.
• Several swimming locations: Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Ħondoq Ir-Rummien, and other bays offer time for swimming and snorkeling.
• Useful onboard comforts: You get shade, open deck space, a bathing platform, ladder, toilet, shower, cooler with ice, and snorkel masks.
• Gozo can be part of the day: The route may include Mgarr Harbour, Qala Valley, Ramla Bay, Ghajn Barrani, Dahlet Qorrot, or San Blas Bay.
• Good for a social group: Bluetooth speakers let you play your own music, while the private format keeps the day relaxed and informal.
• Friendly, responsive service: Jeanette handles communication, and skipper Fabio has been praised for clear directions, friendly service, and making an effort to keep groups happy.

A private boat changes the Comino experience

Comino and the south coast of Gozo are easy to reach by boat, but the character of your day depends greatly on how you get there. A shared boat fixes you to someone else’s schedule. This private charter lets you spend more time swimming, stop for lunch in Mgarr Harbour, or shorten the day if your group has had enough sun.

That flexibility is the chief reason to consider this trip. You are not simply being carried from one famous spot to another. You have a skipper who can guide the route and respond to your preferences, subject to weather and available time.

The boat is private for your party, with a maximum listed capacity of 25. For a four to six-hour outing, however, the suggested limit of 15 is sensible. Fifteen people can spread between the covered seating and open decks without making every movement feel like a game of human Tetris.

The trip suits families, groups of friends, and anyone who wants a relaxed day on the water without organizing several separate activities. It is less suited to a solo visitor or couple, unless paying the full group price is comfortable.

Starting at Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour

You can begin at either the Gozo Ferry Terminal in Mgarr Harbour or the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal on Malta. At Cirkewwa, the meeting point is behind the food kiosk, beside the Gozo Channel ferry car-queuing lanes. At Mgarr, go from the main jetty toward the far end, beyond the fast ferry terminal.

The operator sends the exact boat location through WhatsApp after booking. That is useful because ferry terminals can be confusing, especially when you are carrying bags, towels, and food while watching vehicles move through the port.

Your trip includes pickup at the chosen harbor, the private boat, an experienced local skipper, and fuel. It does not include transport from your hotel to the terminal, so plan that part separately.

The usual full-day schedule runs from 10am to 4pm. A half-day normally runs from 9am to noon. Earlier or later starts may be possible, and you can ask to shorten or extend the trip if the operator has room in the schedule.

The Julie Pearl: simple, well-equipped, and made for swimming

The Julie Pearl is not described as a luxury yacht, and that is not really the point. It is a practical day boat built around time in the water.

You get a covered section for shade, open areas at the front and rear, seating, and a table in the middle. The rear bathing platform is low and spacious, with a climbing ladder that makes getting back aboard easier after a swim.

A toilet is available onboard, along with an outdoor freshwater shower. The shower is especially useful after snorkeling, since it lets you rinse off salt water before sitting down for lunch or the ride back.

Snorkel masks are supplied for free and can be used during the whole trip. Life jackets are also available for adults and children if needed. Stand-up paddleboards can be arranged for a small extra charge, but you need to request them before the trip.

The boat has speakers and a stereo that connect by Bluetooth. You can bring your own playlist, which may suit a group of friends. If your party wants a quiet day, simply leave the music off. The private format gives you that choice.

Food and drinks are not included. You may bring ready-to-eat food and drinks onboard and use the cooler box with complimentary ice. The other option is a lunch stop at Mgarr Harbour, where you can choose from food outlets, kiosks, or restaurants.

Saint Mary’s Tower and Comino’s eastern side

After a short sightseeing cruise, the route passes Saint Mary’s Tower. The tower is one of Comino’s best-known landmarks, and the stop is mainly for photographs and a look from the water rather than a long land visit.

This is a good early stop because it gives you a sense of Comino’s dry, rocky character before the swimming begins. You can take photos from the boat without giving up much of your time in the water.

The exact order may change, especially if the skipper adjusts the route for conditions. That flexibility is useful, but it also means you should not treat each listed time as fixed.

Crystal Lagoon: the first major swim

Crystal Lagoon is one of the main reasons people book a Comino boat trip. The scheduled visit allows about 30 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, and looking for marine life.

The clear water makes this a natural place to use the supplied masks. You can swim from the boat, explore below the surface, or stay on the bathing platform and enjoy the view. If you prefer not to swim, the open deck still gives you a pleasant place to sit and watch.

Thirty minutes is enough for a proper dip, but it is not a full afternoon. If Crystal Lagoon is the place your group most wants to enjoy, tell the skipper early. On a private charter, asking for more time is possible when the route and conditions allow.

As with all popular Comino stops, the water may not feel private simply because your boat is private. The advantage is that you have your own base, shade, equipment, and place to return to between swims.

Blue Lagoon: famous water, less private atmosphere

Blue Lagoon is the headline stop, and the itinerary allows time for swimming, snorkeling, sightseeing, a cocktail, or lunch. The water is the attraction, but the fame of the place also means it can be the least peaceful part of the day.

A private boat helps because you do not need to search for a public beach spot or remain there longer than you wish. You can swim, take photos, and return to the boat when the scene feels too busy.

The supplied schedule gives roughly 30 minutes here, so do not expect an entire leisurely lunch unless your group and skipper agree to change the timing. If you want a cocktail or a meal, ask how that will affect the other stops.

This is also a good point to use the cooler if you brought food. The operator permits ready-to-eat items onboard, but cooking facilities are not mentioned, so keep your provisions simple.

Mgarr Harbour: a useful Gozo lunch break

Mgarr Harbour provides a change of pace. Instead of staying on the boat, you can have about 30 minutes for lunch, shopping, sightseeing, or a short walk.

The port is a practical stop rather than a quiet cove. Its value is choice. You can pick up food from a kiosk or restaurant, eat on shore, and stretch your legs after several swims.

Half an hour is brief, so plan to choose something easy. If your group has different tastes, this stop can be more convenient than bringing one shared meal. If everyone is eager to return to the water, you may prefer to bring food and keep the boat moving.

The route may also include other Gozo locations, such as Qala Valley, Ramla Bay, Ghajn Barrani, Dahlet Qorrot, and San Blas Bay. These alternatives make the full-day option more appealing for people who want more than the standard Comino circuit.

Ħondoq Ir-Rummien and the southern Gozo coast

Ħondoq Ir-Rummien is another swimming and snorkeling stop, with about 30 minutes planned for water time and marine-life viewing. The bay gives the day a Gozo focus and offers a different setting from Comino’s more famous lagoons.

The southern Gozo coast can be the best part of the outing for anyone who prefers quieter scenery over checking off famous names. Qala Valley and the other possible bays offer more flexibility, though the final choice depends on weather, sea conditions, and the agreed duration.

The private setup matters here. If your group prefers swimming in a less crowded place, you can ask about spending more time along the Gozo coast. The skipper may recommend a different stop when conditions make one bay less suitable.

Santa Maria Caves and the ride home

The Santa Maria Caves are usually a short photo and sightseeing stop, listed at about five minutes. That may sound brief, but caves are often best seen from the water, where the boat can approach openings and give you a clear angle for photographs.

Do not expect a long cave walk or an underground excursion. This is a coastal viewing stop, part of a moving route that also includes swimming and sunbathing.

The final cruise returns you to Mgarr or Cirkewwa. By then, the shower and covered seating can be welcome. Salt, wind, and sun are enjoyable in small doses, but a freshwater rinse makes the ride back more comfortable.

Is $577 good value?

The price is $577 for a private group of up to 15. That is not a cheap individual ticket, but the calculation changes when you divide it among a full group. At 15 people, the base cost works out to about $38.47 per person before any food, drinks, or paddleboard charges.

At 10 people, it is about $57.70 each. For a family or group of friends, that can be reasonable for four to six hours of private use, a skipper, fuel, several swim stops, snorkeling equipment, shade, a toilet, shower, and cooler.

For fewer than six people, the value is harder to defend unless privacy and flexibility are your top priorities. A shared boat may cost less, though it will not offer the same control over stops, music, lunch, or timing.

The strongest value comes from filling the boat without overcrowding it. The operator recommends no more than 15 for a longer trip, and that is also the point where the cost begins to make practical sense.

What the service is like

Communication is handled in English, and the exact meeting point arrives through WhatsApp after confirmation. Jeanette is noted for friendly communication and clear directions. Skipper Fabio has also been praised for being friendly, chatting with the group, and making an effort to keep everyone happy.

Those details matter on a private charter. You are not simply buying transport. You are relying on the operator to explain where to meet, help shape the route, and manage the day on the water.

The service is flexible, but flexibility is not the same as a guarantee. Weather controls the final decision. If conditions are unsuitable, the booking can be postponed to another available date or canceled with the deposit refunded in full.

You can also cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans open. Check the available starting times before booking, since the normal half-day and full-day schedules are only the standard pattern.

Who should book this Comino charter?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families who want easy swimming access and a toilet onboard
• Groups of friends who will use the music, cooler, and open deck
• Parties of roughly 8 to 15 people sharing the cost
• Swimmers and snorkelers who want several water stops
• People staying in Malta or Gozo who can reach Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour
• Anyone who values control over lunch, music, and time at each bay

I would think twice if you dislike spending several hours in the sun, rarely swim, or are traveling with only one or two people. The boat has shade, but this is still a sea outing built around swimming and outdoor time.

Pack towels, sun protection, water, and simple food if you do not want to stop for lunch. Bring a playlist if music will improve the mood, but remember that the stereo is a bonus, not the main reason to book.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you can gather a group and want a flexible day around Comino and Gozo rather than a fixed sightseeing cruise. The private boat, supplied masks, multiple swim stops, and helpful onboard facilities give it real value when divided among several people.

Choose the full day if you want time for Gozo’s bays, Mgarr Harbour, lunch, and several swims. Choose the half day if your priority is a quick visit to Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, and nearby coastal sights.

The main reason to book is the people running it. Clear communication from Jeanette and the friendly, attentive approach praised in connection with Fabio can make the difference between a confusing harbor start and a smooth day at sea. Just keep your group to a comfortable size, bring your own food and drinks, and stay flexible about the route.

FAQ

How long is the Comino private boat trip?

The trip lasts four to six hours. Full-day trips normally run from 10am to 4pm, while half-day trips usually run from 9am to noon.

Where can I board the boat?

You can board at Gozo Ferry Terminal in Mgarr Harbour or Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal in Malta. The exact meeting point is sent through WhatsApp after booking.

How many people can the boat carry?

The Julie Pearl has a maximum capacity of 25 passengers. For longer trips, no more than 15 passengers is recommended for comfort.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The booking includes exclusive use of the boat for your private group, along with a local skipper and fuel.

Are snorkeling masks included?

Yes. Snorkel masks are provided and can be used freely throughout the trip.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You may bring ready-to-eat food and drinks onboard and use the cooler box and complimentary ice. You can also stop at Mgarr Harbour to buy lunch.

Are stand-up paddleboards included?

No. Stand-up paddleboards are available for a small additional charge and must be booked before the trip.

What happens if the weather is unsuitable?

The trip is subject to suitable weather. If conditions do not permit the outing, you can postpone it to another available date or cancel and receive the deposit back in full.