Malta: Comino, Blue Lagoon, + Sea Caves Day Trip

Malta’s best swimming spots are easiest by boat. This Seahorse Cruises trip links the Blue Lagoon, Santa Maria Bay, Gozo Harbour, Crystal Lagoon, and Comino’s caves in one long day at sea. I like the generous swimming time, with 1.5 hours at Santa Maria Bay and 2.5 hours at the Blue Lagoon, and I like the friendly crew led by Captain Owen, who is often praised for his calm, helpful approach.

The main drawback is crowding. The boat is not a quiet private charter, and the Blue Lagoon itself can be very busy, especially in summer. Still, at about $35 per person, this is a strong-value way to see several coastal sights without arranging separate boat trips.

Key points before you book

• Two proper swimming stops: You get 1.5 hours at Santa Maria Bay and 2.5 hours at the Blue Lagoon, rather than a rushed photo stop.
• A full coastal circuit: The route takes in St. Paul’s Island, Gozo Harbour, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Maria Caves, Elephant Rock, and other sea cliffs.
• Seahorse Cruises is easy to spot: At Bugibba Jetty, look for the only sailing boat there named Seahorse Cruises.
• The boat is family-friendly rather than a party boat: You get a front deck, rear deck, diving platform, toilet, shower, and onboard snack bar.
• Bring cash and water shoes: Food and drinks are sold onboard for cash, while rocky paths and shore access make sturdy water shoes useful.
• The Blue Lagoon now has an access rule: From May 1, 2025, you need a free QR code and a booked time slot to step ashore at Comino’s Blue Lagoon.

Starting at Bugibba Jetty

The boat leaves Bugibba at 10:30 AM on the daytime sailing, but boarding closes at 10:00 AM. That early cutoff matters. Arrive with time to find the jetty, locate the Seahorse vessel, and get settled before the crew closes boarding.

The meeting point is straightforward: Bugibba Jetty, where Seahorse Cruises is the only sailing boat. Even so, I would not cut it close. Boats, jetties, and Malta’s road traffic do not always follow your ideal schedule.

This is a sailing boat, but do not expect a tiny yacht with only a handful of people onboard. It can feel crowded during the high season. The reward is more space than a small speedboat, with room to sit on the front deck, find a place at the back, or move around during the long cruise.

The crew speaks English and Italian. Captain Owen receives especially warm praise for being informative and reassuring, while the wider crew is often described as friendly, funny, and willing to help. That matters on a day involving ladders, rocky swimming areas, and open water.

St. Paul’s Island and the first hour at sea

The first part of the outing is a scenic cruise along Malta’s northeastern coast. You pass St. Paul’s Island, linked with the traditional story of Saint Paul’s shipwreck on Malta. The route also gives you views of the remains of ancient wrecks, described as nearly 2,000 years old, and Smuggler’s Cove, a well-known place for underwater activity.

This opening hour is not just transport. It gives you a useful sense of Malta from the sea. Limestone cliffs, low rocky islands, and sheltered inlets look quite different from the roads and resort towns inland.

The boat’s movement also creates a natural break between sightseeing and swimming. You can sit in the sun, watch the coast, or enjoy the breeze before the first long stop. If you are prone to seasickness, choose a position with a clear view of the horizon and avoid arriving on an empty stomach.

Gozo Harbour and a ten-minute village stop

The boat continues toward Gozo Harbour, also known as Mġarr Harbour. The daytime trip includes about ten minutes for photographs and views of a traditional fishing village. It is a short stop, so think of it as a scenic introduction rather than a chance to explore Gozo.

That limitation is worth understanding. You will see the harbour from the water, take photographs, and enjoy the setting, but you will not have time to wander through Gozo’s streets or visit inland sights. If Gozo is a major priority, plan a separate land trip.

The Gozo Harbour stop is not included on the evening cruise. The same applies to Santa Maria Bay, so check the exact departure time before booking if those two places are important to you.

Santa Maria Bay gives you room to slow down

Santa Maria Bay on Comino is the first major swimming stop. The boat anchors for about 1.5 hours, giving you time to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, or simply stay aboard and enjoy the view.

This is one of the most useful parts of the schedule. You are not forced to leave the boat the moment it reaches the bay. If you prefer a quieter swim, you can use the water near the vessel rather than walking toward the busiest shore area.

The bay is described as more peaceful than the Blue Lagoon, though the experience will depend on the day and the number of boats nearby. The crew provides snorkeling masks for a €10 deposit. Bring your own mask if you already have one, but the included borrowing option is handy for a casual look below the surface.

The boat also has a diving platform, a side ladder, and a nearby shower. The platform is a good choice if you want to enter the water directly from the boat. The ladder and shower make repeated swims more comfortable, especially after saltwater dries on your skin.

For shore access, pack water shoes. Comino’s ground is rocky, and paths down to the water can be awkward. Flip-flops may be fine on deck, but they are less useful on uneven stone.

The Blue Lagoon: beautiful, busy, and regulated

The main event is the Blue Lagoon, where the boat remains for about 2.5 hours. The water is famously clear and intensely blue, framed by pale volcanic rock and low coastal cliffs. It is one of Malta’s most photogenic places, and the long stop gives you enough time to swim, return to the deck, eat, and swim again.

The key point is that you do not have to leave the boat to enjoy the lagoon. Seahorse Cruises anchors away from some of the thickest crowds, so staying onboard can be more pleasant than pushing through the shore area. You can use the diving platform, swim around the boat, or relax on deck with the lagoon in view.

Stepping ashore is now more complicated. From May 1, 2025, Maltese rules require a free QR code and a reserved time slot to enter the Blue Lagoon area on Comino. The relevant booking window for this trip is 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. No QR code is needed if you remain on the boat.

Check this detail before departure. A ticket for the boat does not automatically mean you can walk onto the Blue Lagoon shore. If you want land access, arrange the QR code separately and keep it ready on your phone.

The Blue Lagoon can be extremely busy, with rocky paths and limited easy access to the water. One practical approach is to treat the boat as your base. You avoid the worst of the scramble, keep your belongings close, and still get the main benefit: swimming in the clear water.

Crystal Lagoon, caves, and Elephant Rock

After the major swimming stops, the boat continues along Comino’s coast. The route includes a photo stop or slow pass by Crystal Lagoon, a smaller inlet with clear water and dramatic rock walls.

You also pass Santa Maria Caves, where the coast breaks into hollows, arches, and shaded openings. These are best appreciated from the water. The boat gives you angles that are difficult to get from land, particularly when the sun lights the rock and water at the cave mouths.

Elephant Rock is another memorable coastal formation. The name comes from its shape, which becomes easier to recognize from the sea than from a distant viewpoint. These passages are brief, so keep your camera ready and listen for the crew’s commentary.

An optional speedboat ride may also be available for an extra charge, reported at about €15 per person. It can take you closer into caves and give you a faster, more thrilling look at the shoreline. Confirm the price and availability onboard, since it is not included in the $35 tour price.

Food, drinks, and life onboard

Lunch is not included, but food and drinks are available from the snack bar. The onboard prices are described as reasonable, which makes the arrangement practical for a full day. You can buy a drink, snack, or simple meal instead of carrying a packed lunch.

Only cash is accepted onboard. Bring enough euros for food, drinks, the mask deposit, and any optional speedboat ride. The instructions also say not to bring outside food or drinks, luggage, large bags, or a cooler, so pack lightly.

A towel, swimwear, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and cash belong in your day bag. Leave the large suitcase at your accommodation. Space on a sailing boat is valuable, and a bulky bag makes boarding and deck movement harder for everyone.

The atmosphere is generally relaxed, with music and places to sit at both the front and rear of the boat. This is better suited to families, couples, and people who want a calm day on the water than to anyone searching for a floating nightclub.

Is $35 good value?

At around $35 per person, the price is attractive for the amount of coastline and swimming time included. You get transport from Bugibba, a full coastal cruise, two long stops, live commentary, use of a diving platform, a shower, a toilet, and access to snorkeling masks with a refundable deposit.

The strongest value comes from the schedule. Many boat trips give you a quick swim and a few photographs before moving on. Here, the Blue Lagoon stop lasts 2.5 hours, and Santa Maria Bay adds another 1.5 hours. That leaves enough time to enjoy the boat itself rather than spending the whole day waiting for the next stop.

The price does not cover lunch, drinks, shore access at the Blue Lagoon, or the optional speedboat ride. Those extras do not ruin the value, but you should include them in your budget if you want the complete day.

The boat may also be crowded. If personal space and silence are more important to you than seeing several sites cheaply, a private charter or smaller boat could suit you better. For a first Malta boat outing, though, this package covers a lot for the money.

Timing, weather, and the evening option

The daytime trip usually returns to Bugibba at about 5:00 PM, with a total duration of roughly four to 6.5 hours depending on the selected departure and operating conditions. The captain can alter the route, timing, or start and end points because of weather, tides, or other operating concerns.

That flexibility is sensible. Sea conditions can change quickly, and a safe route matters more than following a printed schedule exactly. If a particular cave or harbour is essential to your plans, keep some spare time afterward rather than booking a tight connection.

The evening cruise has a different route. Santa Maria Bay and the Gozo Harbour stop are not included, so do not assume every departure offers the same experience. Check the available time and itinerary before paying.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would recommend it for a first visit to Malta when you want to see Comino and its coastal sights in one outing. It also suits families because the crew has been praised for being helpful, the boat has a toilet and shower, and the atmosphere is not built around partying.

It works well for swimmers who like the freedom to enter from a platform, but non-swimmers can stay on deck and still enjoy the coast. The front deck is useful for sunbathing, while the rear deck may offer a more sheltered place to sit depending on the conditions.

You should think twice if you dislike crowds, have difficulty with rocky paths or boat ladders, or want a quiet private experience. The Blue Lagoon is not a peaceful secret, and access to the shore can be physically awkward. You can avoid much of that by swimming from the boat, but the trip remains a shared group excursion.

FAQ

Where does the cruise leave from?

The meeting point is Bugibba Jetty. Seahorse Cruises is the only sailing boat there and is named Seahorse Cruises.

What time does the daytime boat leave?

The daytime sailing departs at 10:30 AM. Boarding closes at 10:00 AM, so arrive before that cutoff.

How long do you spend at Santa Maria Bay?

The daytime trip includes about 1.5 hours at Santa Maria Bay for swimming, snorkeling, free time, or relaxing on the boat.

How long do you spend at the Blue Lagoon?

You get approximately 2.5 hours at the Blue Lagoon. You can swim from the boat, use the diving platform, snorkel, or relax on deck.

Do you need a QR code for the Blue Lagoon?

You need a free QR code and a reserved time slot to step ashore at the Blue Lagoon from May 1, 2025. The stated time slot is 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. You do not need a QR code if you stay on the boat.

Is food included?

Lunch is not included. Food and drinks are available for purchase onboard, and the boat accepts cash only.

Should you book the Seahorse Cruises day trip?

Book it if you want a good-value Malta sea day with plenty of swimming time and several coastal sights in one route. The crew, especially Captain Owen, receives strong praise for being friendly, reassuring, and helpful, while the boat offers useful basics without pretending to be a private yacht.

Bring water shoes, sunscreen, a towel, and cash. Plan to swim from the boat if the Blue Lagoon shore looks too crowded, and arrange the QR code in advance if you want to step onto Comino. For a first look at the Blue Lagoon, Comino, Gozo Harbour, and Malta’s sea caves, this is a practical and enjoyable choice.