Comino: Private Boat Trips, Swimming stops and Caves Tours

Sea time, done your way. This private boat trip around Comino and Gozo gives your group room to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and set the pace instead of following a packed tour boat. I like the flexible pickup from Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour, and I like the Lucky Lady’s practical setup, with shade, a toilet, freshwater shower, cooler, Bluetooth stereo, and easy access to the water. The main consideration is price: at $648 for up to 25 people, it makes the most sense for a group, not a couple or solo visitor.

The skipper can adjust the route and timing, which matters when wind affects the sea. I especially like that you can bring your own food and drinks, use the ice-filled cooler, and request a Gozo lunch stop. The Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon are beautiful, but they are popular places, so you should not expect every stop to feel quiet or private.

Key points to know before booking

• The $648 price covers the whole boat for up to 25 people, making the cost much better when shared among family or friends.
• Crystal Lagoon gets a generous 80-minute stop for swimming, snorkelling, and looking for marine life.
• Blue Lagoon is the longest stop, about 2.5 hours, with time for swimming, lunch, cocktails, and free time.
• Pickup is available at Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal or Mgarr Harbour, with the exact meeting point sent by WhatsApp.
• The Lucky Lady suits a relaxed day at sea, with shaded seating, open sun decks, a rooftop, toilet, shower, bathing platform, and ladder.
• The route can change with weather and your wishes, as shown when a wind cancellation was reshaped into a successful cave and swimming day.

Why a private boat works well around Comino

Comino is compact, but the best parts are spread along its rocky coast. A private boat lets you move between swimming spots without hauling your things along the shore or waiting for a large group to finish at one location.

You also get control over the mood. Use the shaded rear deck when the sun feels strong, move to the open front or rooftop for sunbathing, or sit inside on the sofa when you want a break. The Bluetooth stereo lets your group play its own music, a small detail that can make a birthday, reunion, or family outing feel more personal.

The boat carries a maximum of 25 people. That is enough for a substantial group, yet still much more manageable than a large sightseeing vessel. For a group of seven, the arrangement can feel especially spacious. For 25, you will share the seating and deck areas, so ask yourself how much room your group needs before booking.

The rear bathing platform is one of the most useful features. It is low, with a climbing ladder, so getting back aboard after a swim is simpler than clambering up the side of a small boat. Life jackets for adults and children are available, though children should still be watched closely around the water and boat edges.

Pickup at Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour

You can start at Malta’s Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal or Gozo’s Mgarr Harbour. The Malta meeting point is behind the food kiosk, near the Gozo Channel ferry car-queuing lanes. At Mgarr, the boat waits from the main jetty at the far end, beyond the fast ferry terminal.

The exact waiting point is sent by WhatsApp after booking. That is useful because ferry terminals can be confusing, especially if your group is carrying towels, coolers, and snorkel gear.

The normal full-day schedule runs from 10am to 4pm. A standard half-day option runs from 9am to noon. The operator can sometimes start earlier or later, and you may be able to shorten or extend the trip if availability allows.

This flexibility is valuable, but do not treat the listed route as a fixed timetable. The water, wind, and your group’s wishes can change the order or remove a stop. One strong example involved a speedboat outing canceled because of high winds. The company quickly arranged another plan, and Captain Fabio and Frankie adjusted the day so the group could swim and visit caves when conditions allowed.

Saint Mary’s Tower and the approach to Comino

The first sightseeing cruise is short, about 10 minutes. You then pass Saint Mary’s Tower, also called the Red Tower of Comino, for a photo stop and brief look.

The tower is viewed mainly from the water on this plan, so do not expect a long land visit. Its position above the coast gives the boat a recognizable landmark as you move toward the swimming areas. Five minutes is enough for photos, but not for a full exploration.

That short stop reflects the character of this trip. The focus is not a long historical tour. It is a day of coast views, water time, and moving between bays.

Crystal Lagoon: your first serious swim

Crystal Lagoon receives about 80 minutes, making it one of the most worthwhile stops. You can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and look for marine life in clear water framed by pale rock and narrow coastal openings.

The snorkel masks are included and can be used throughout the trip. That saves you from renting basic equipment and means you can keep a mask nearby when the skipper finds a good place to stop.

The lagoon is also a good test of the day’s rhythm. If you prefer active time, use the full stop for swimming and snorkelling. If you are with children or less confident swimmers, the bathing platform and ladder make repeated entries and exits easier, while the available life jackets offer an extra option.

The boat’s location matters here. You are not simply given a short swim beside a crowded beach and then hurried away. The schedule allows real water time. Still, conditions may affect visibility and the exact time spent in the lagoon.

Blue Lagoon: beautiful, popular, and worth planning around

The Blue Lagoon gets roughly 2.5 hours, the longest stop of the day. You have time for swimming, snorkelling, cocktails, lunch, and sitting back without watching the clock every few minutes.

This is the signature stop, and its clear water explains why it attracts so much attention. The tradeoff is popularity. A private boat gives your group a more personal base on the water, but it does not make the lagoon itself empty. If you want the calmest possible experience, ask about an early start or spend more time at quieter locations when conditions permit.

Food and drinks are not included. You can bring ready-to-eat food and beverages aboard, then keep them cold in the provided cooler with complimentary ice. This is the simplest option for a group, especially if everyone wants different snacks or drinks.

You can also ask to stop for lunch at Mgarr Harbour, where food outlets, kiosks, and restaurants offer dine-in or takeaway choices. That option gives you a break from boat food and lets you choose what suits your group. It does use part of the cruising day, so decide if lunch ashore is more important than another swim.

Mgarr Harbour and the Gozo side of the trip

The visit to Mgarr Harbour lasts around 30 minutes in the listed plan. It is mainly a photo and sightseeing stop, but it can also be used as a practical lunch break if arranged with the skipper.

This is where the trip can shift from a Comino swim day to a wider Gozo coast outing. The possible route includes Qala Valley and Halfa Rock along Gozo’s south coast. If you choose a longer outing, the skipper may also suggest Ramla Bay, Ghajn Barrani, Dahlet Qorrot, or San Blas Bay, depending on time and sea conditions.

These locations are not all guaranteed in one four to six-hour trip. Think of them as possible additions or alternatives, not a promise that every bay will be visited. Ask before departure which route fits your chosen duration.

Hondoq Ir-Rummien and the final water stop

Hondoq Ir-Rummien Beach receives about 30 minutes for sightseeing, swimming, snorkelling, and marine-life viewing. It is a useful final water stop because you can have one more swim without committing to a long stay.

Thirty minutes goes quickly. If your group needs time to change, eat, and snorkel, you may prefer to spend longer at one of the larger lagoon stops. If everyone simply wants one last jump into the water, this short pause works well.

The skipper’s local knowledge is especially useful when choosing between stops. Marvic, called Maverick by one birthday group, showed guests places to snorkel, explore caves, and view a shipwreck about 20 metres below the surface. That sort of help can turn a basic swim stop into something more memorable, though the precise sightings depend on conditions and location.

Santa Maria Caves and the return to port

The Santa Maria Caves are scheduled as a 10-minute photo stop and pass-by. You see the formations from the boat rather than spending a long period inside them.

That short timing is sensible if the day is built around swimming. It also means you should keep your camera ready. The caves are easy to miss if you are below deck or packing up after the previous stop.

After the caves, the boat returns to Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour. The final cruise segments are about 10 minutes each in the planned route, but actual timing can change with the chosen stops and weather.

What you get aboard the Lucky Lady

The Lucky Lady is set up for a full day rather than a quick transfer. You get covered seating at the back, an open front deck, access to a rooftop deck, seating around the boat, and an inside cabin with a sofa.

The toilet is important on a four to six-hour outing. So is the outdoor freshwater shower, which lets you rinse salt from your skin after swimming. Bring a towel and dry clothes, since the shower is for rinsing rather than a full changing facility.

The stereo connects by Bluetooth, and the speakers can be used freely. I would still keep the volume sensible near other boats and at quiet coastal stops. Music works best as a bonus, not as the main event.

The cooler and ice are included, but food and drinks are not. Ready-to-eat items are the practical choice. You should also plan for sun protection, since the front and rooftop decks are open. The supplied snorkel masks are useful, but you may prefer to bring your own mask if fit matters to you.

Standup paddle boards are optional and cost extra. They must be booked before the trip, so do not wait until you are at the harbour if paddling is part of your plan.

Price, group size, and overall value

The price is $648 for the group, with a maximum capacity of 25. For 25 people, that works out to about $26 per person. For 10 people, it is about $65 each. For seven, it is roughly $93 each, before any optional paddle board costs or personal food expenses.

That calculation explains who should book. A family reunion, birthday group, or group of friends can get strong value from a private boat because you share the skipper, fuel, equipment, and boat facilities. A couple would pay a much higher per-person cost and may find a shared outing more sensible.

The price includes the private boat, skipper, fuel, snorkel masks, ice, toilet, shower, stereo, and deck space. It does not include lunch, drinks, or standup paddle boards. You are paying mainly for privacy and control, not a packaged meal or a long guided history talk.

The strongest value comes from using the flexibility. Bring refreshments, choose your music, ask for less time at a crowded stop, and request bays that suit your group. If you simply follow the standard route without caring about the private format, the extra cost may be harder to justify.

The skipper and the human side of the outing

Good boat days depend heavily on the skipper. Angelo and Marvic received particular praise for taking groups to strong swimming spots and photo locations. Angelo was also described as personable and willing to shape the outing around the group.

Communication before departure is another plus. One birthday group received helpful information before the day and found the crew understanding when traffic caused a late arrival. That matters at Cirkewwa, where ferry traffic and queues can make timing less predictable.

Captain Fabio and Frankie showed another useful quality when wind changed the plan. They did not force an unsafe route. Instead, the day was adjusted around the weather, with swimming and cave visits kept for the periods when conditions allowed.

Weather remains the main uncertainty. If conditions prevent the trip, it 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 flexible.

Who should book this Comino boat trip?

I would choose this for a group that values time in the water more than formal sightseeing. Families can use the ladder, shower, shaded seating, and optional life jackets. Friends can bring drinks, connect music, and make the day fit a birthday or reunion.

It also suits people who dislike rigid boat schedules. You can ask for different stops, adjust the duration when possible, and let the skipper respond to sea conditions.

I would think twice if you are traveling alone, as a couple, or with only three people. The private price is much easier to defend when split among a larger group.

Final decision: is the Lucky Lady worth booking?

Book it if your group can share the cost and wants a flexible day of swimming around Comino and Gozo. The best reasons are the long Blue Lagoon stop, the generous Crystal Lagoon swim, practical onboard facilities, and skippers who appear willing to adapt the route.

Do not book it expecting every bay, cave, and Gozo beach in one short outing. The route changes with weather and duration, and the Blue Lagoon may be busy. For the right group, though, this is a comfortable way to turn Malta’s clearest coastal water into your own day plan.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip depart?

You can depart from Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal in Malta or Mgarr Harbour in Gozo.

Where is the Cirkewwa meeting point?

The Cirkewwa point is behind the food kiosk, next to the Gozo Channel ferry car-queuing lanes area.

Where is the Mgarr Harbour meeting point?

The Mgarr meeting point is at the main jetty at the far end, beyond the fast ferry terminal.

How long does the trip last?

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

How many people can join the private boat trip?

The Lucky Lady can carry a maximum of 25 passengers.

Is the boat private?

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

Are snorkel masks included?

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

Are food and drinks included?

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

Are standup paddle boards included?

No. Standup paddle boards are optional and available for a minimal extra charge. They must be booked before the trip.

What happens if the weather is unsuitable?

If weather prevents the trip, you can postpone it to another available date or cancel it and receive the deposit back in full.