Malta: Gozo Buggy Tour with Lunch, Boat Cruise and Transfers

Gozo packs a lot into one day. This full-day buggy tour links ancient temples, hilltop views, fishing bays, salt pans, and dramatic coast without asking you to arrange separate transport. I like the wide range of sights and the easy hotel pickup, though you should know that the buggy is usually driven by a tour leader rather than by you.

The strongest parts are the visit to Ggantija Temples, among the oldest free-standing monuments in the world, and the return boat ride past Comino’s Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and sea caves when conditions allow. The trade-off is a busy schedule, with many short stops, plus engine noise and heat inside the non-electric buggy.

Five things to know before you book

• Gozo in one loop: You visit Qala, Ggantija, Victoria, Xlendi, Dwejra, Ta’ Pinu, and the salt pans in about eight hours.
• The buggy is mainly your transport: Experienced drivers lead the route, so this is sightseeing by buggy rather than a self-drive adventure.
• Lunch is included: The Mariblu Guest House serves a cold buffet with local wine and mineral water.
• Swimming depends on the season: The stop at Xwejni Bay operates in summer and the shoulder season, subject to conditions.
• The boat ride adds real value: The return crossing may pass Comino’s Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and sea caves.
• Some costs remain extra: Ggantija entry and the Dwejra Inland Sea boat ride are not included.

Why this Gozo day trip works well

At $96 per person, this tour gives you a lot of practical coverage. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included from a long list of Malta locations, along with the ferry or boat connections, a driver-guide, lunch, and a full circuit of Gozo.

That matters because Gozo is compact but scattered. Getting from Mgarr Harbour to the temples, Victoria, Dwejra, Ta’ Pinu, and Xwejni Bay on your own requires careful timing and several separate transport decisions. Here, you can sit back and let the route unfold.

The day begins with a van transfer from your pickup point, usually taking about an hour to reach the boat connection. The crossing to Gozo is listed as a 30-minute speedboat ride, although you should set your expectations closer to a fast boat transfer than a dedicated thrill ride. One useful surprise is the return journey, which can include views of Comino’s sea caves and lagoons.

The tour has a rating of 4.7 from 51 reviews, and the praise is especially consistent about the drivers. Tony is singled out for helpful explanations, while Nick, Charlie, and Mario also receive warm comments for their friendly manner, calm driving, and ability to keep the day moving. Charlie even arranged extra cheese at lunch for one family, a small touch that says something about the tone of the service.

Mgarr Harbour and the first Gozo views

Mgarr Harbour is your starting point on Gozo. It is a practical place to begin, but it also gives you an immediate sense of the island’s setting, with sea views, boats, and countryside rising behind the port.

From here, the buggy becomes your transport for the day. The vehicles are not electric, so expect some engine noise and heat inside the seating area. If you are sensitive to noise or hoping to drive your own vehicle, ask for clarification before booking. The supplied experience is guided sightseeing, not clearly a self-drive rental.

Your first short stop is Qala Belvedere. From this high point, you can look across the Maltese archipelago toward Comino and Malta. The 15-minute pause is enough for photographs and a quick orientation, but not for a long walk or quiet view.

You then pass Qala Parish Church, a Baroque building dedicated to St. Joseph. This is a brief cultural stop rather than a full church visit, but it adds local character to a route that could otherwise become just a string of scenic viewpoints.

Simar Valley and Calypso Cave

The road through Simar Valley gives you a change of pace. Gozo’s countryside here is marked by terraced fields and farmhouses, with a quieter feel than the island’s main towns.

The stop at Calypso Cave lasts about 20 minutes. The site is tied to the story of the nymph Calypso and Odysseus from Homer’s Odyssey. It is best treated as a myth-linked viewpoint and photo stop. The appeal comes from the story and the setting, not from a long underground exploration.

This section of the day works well for visitors who want more than beaches. You get a look at Gozo’s agricultural side and a reminder that local places often carry several layers of meaning: farming, religion, legend, and island life.

Ggantija Temples, Gozo’s essential ancient site

Ggantija is the day’s major archaeological stop. These megalithic structures date to roughly 3600 to 3200 BC, making them some of the oldest free-standing monuments in the world.

You have about 30 minutes here, so plan your attention. The tour includes a visit to the site area, but the entrance fee is not included. If you want to go inside the temple complex, budget separately for admission. The information provided describes entry as optional, so confirm the current arrangement when you book.

I would prioritize Ggantija over a casual photo stop. The scale and age of the stonework give Gozo a much longer story than its medieval towns and coastal views. Still, 30 minutes is a fairly tight window. If archaeology is your main reason for visiting Gozo, a dedicated temple visit would allow more time than this fast-moving day.

Victoria and the Citadel

Next comes Victoria, Gozo’s capital, where you stop at the Citadel for about 30 minutes. This fortified hilltop area offers views from its ramparts and contains historic buildings and museums within its walls.

The time here is enough to look around, take photographs, and enjoy the elevated views. It is not enough for a slow museum visit, a full meal in town, and a detailed walk through every lane. Keep that in mind if you prefer unhurried sightseeing.

The Citadel is one of the stops that makes the tour feel balanced. You are not only seeing the coast and countryside. You also get a compact introduction to Gozo’s political and defensive past, framed by the island’s capital.

Lunch at Mariblu Guest House

Lunch takes about 45 minutes at Mariblu Guest House. The buffet focuses on cold cuts and other cold dishes, with food described as including pasta, rice salad, cooked meats, tuna, olives, tomatoes, and similar simple items. Marble cake slices are served as a sweet finish.

This is a straightforward local lunch, not a formal food experience. That simplicity suits a day with many stops. Local wine and mineral water are included, while other drinks are available for purchase. If you have special dietary needs, the provided details do not specify alternatives, so ask before the tour.

The meal is also a useful rest. You have already covered viewpoints, a valley, ancient temples, and the Citadel, and the second half brings more coastal scenery. The schedule gives you time to eat, but not a long lingering break.

Xlendi Bay and the coast near Dwejra

After lunch, the route turns toward the sea. At Xlendi Bay, you stop for about 20 minutes to see the cliffs and the blue water below. The cliffs are the main attraction, with sheer rock dropping toward the Mediterranean.

Dwejra follows, with another 20-minute guided stop. The area is known for the Inland Sea and the former Azure Window, which collapsed in 2017. The window itself is gone, but the coastal formations remain striking.

You can optionally take a small boat ride on the Inland Sea, but that cost is not included. One review described the €5-per-person ride as a highlight, though prices can change, so check locally. I would consider paying for it if the water and timing are good. It gives you a closer look at the sheltered inlet and the rock formations, rather than another view from the road.

Because the Dwejra stop is short, you may need to choose between photographs, a walk, and the optional boat ride. If you want all three, keep an eye on the meeting time.

Ta’ Pinu and Wied il-Mielah Window

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu is another 20-minute stop. This church is an important pilgrimage site and is known for accounts of miraculous healing, as well as its architecture.

The stop gives you a brief look at one of Gozo’s most important religious places. It is especially useful if you enjoy seeing how faith shapes island culture. As with several stops, the visit is guided and fairly short, so you should not expect a long interior tour unless the schedule allows it.

The route also includes Wied il-Mielah Window, a natural limestone arch on the coast. It offers a strong photo opportunity and is a good alternative to seeing the former Azure Window only from a distance. The arch is less famous, but the coastal rock formation gives the day another memorable viewpoint.

Salt pans and swimming at Xwejni Bay

The salt pans near Xwejni are one of the more distinctive stops. Sea salt has been collected here for centuries, and the shallow stone pans show how seawater is guided and left to evaporate.

You have roughly 30 minutes in this area, including the swimming stop. At Xwejni Bay, you can swim in clear Mediterranean water if the season and weather permit. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, a towel if needed, and water. Comfortable clothing is important for the rest of the buggy ride.

This is one of the few chances to slow down and enjoy Gozo without a monument or viewpoint to reach. Still, the swim is not guaranteed year-round. It is offered in summer and the shoulder season, and weather conditions can change the plan.

If swimming is important to you, treat it as a bonus rather than the main reason to book. The tour remains worthwhile without it, but the schedule does not provide a long beach session.

The boat ride back to Malta

After returning to Mgarr Harbour, you take the boat back toward Malta before another van transfer to your drop-off point. The boat portion is listed at about 30 minutes, followed by roughly an hour in the van.

The return route can pass Comino’s Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and sea caves, depending on weather. This is a welcome finish because it lets you see the islands from the water after spending most of the day on roads and at viewpoints.

The boat may not feel like a private speedboat excursion. It is better understood as transport with scenic value. Even so, the extra coastal views can make the return more enjoyable and add something that a standard land-only tour would miss.

Hotel drop-off is available at many locations around Malta, including Sliema, St. Julian’s, Bugibba, Qawra, Mellieha, and several resort hotels. Since the transfer network is broad, the final drive can take time. Keep your evening plans flexible.

The real value at $96

The $96 price is fair for a full day if you value convenience and variety. You are paying for the Malta transfers, boat connections, driver-guide, lunch with wine and water, and access to a route that covers much of Gozo.

The price becomes less attractive if you want a self-drive buggy adventure, long visits at each sight, or a serious food tour. The buggy is a noisy road vehicle, and the day moves quickly. You will see many places, but you will not have hours to explore any one of them.

The optional extras also matter. Ggantija entry and the Dwejra Inland Sea boat ride cost more. Add those to your budget if they are priorities. On the other hand, the tour’s broad coverage can save you the cost and effort of arranging separate transport around the island.

Who should book this tour?

I would recommend it to first-time visitors to Malta who want one organized day in Gozo. It suits families, couples, and active visitors who prefer seeing many major sights rather than settling into one village or beach.

It also works well for people staying in Malta without a rental car. The wide pickup network removes much of the planning, and multilingual driver-guides are available in English, German, Italian, French, Spanish, Polish, and Portuguese.

I would hesitate if you expect to drive the buggy yourself. The available details describe experienced tour leaders as the drivers, and a family with two adults and two pre-teens was assigned to one buggy. Ask before booking if driving is essential.

You should also think twice if you dislike tight schedules, vehicle noise, or heat. The tour is active and road-heavy. Bring water, sunscreen, a camera, comfortable clothes, and swimwear in the warmer months.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful when weather may affect the boat route or swimming stop.

Final call: a strong one-day introduction to Gozo

Book this tour if you want maximum Gozo coverage with minimal planning. The temples, Citadel, coast, salt pans, lunch, and optional swimming create a satisfying day with plenty of variety.

Skip it if your ideal day means driving your own buggy, lingering at each site, or focusing on one activity. For most first-time visitors, though, the friendly drivers, broad pickup service, included lunch, and scenic boat return make $96 a sensible way to meet Gozo in a single day.

FAQ

How long does the Gozo buggy tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours, including transfers between Malta and Gozo.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are available at many listed hotels and meeting points across Malta. The van transfer takes about one hour each way.

Do I drive the buggy myself?

The tour is led by experienced drivers who serve as tour leaders. The supplied information does not confirm a self-drive option, so ask the provider if driving the buggy is important to you.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served as a buffet at Mariblu Guest House and includes cold cuts and other cold dishes. Local wine and mineral water are included. Other drinks can be purchased.

Is the Ggantija Temples entrance fee included?

No. The Ggantija entrance fee is not included. Entry is described as optional, so confirm the current admission arrangement before visiting.

Can I take a boat ride at Dwejra’s Inland Sea?

Yes, an Inland Sea boat ride is available as an optional activity. The cost is not included in the tour price.

Is swimming at Xwejni Bay guaranteed?

No. The swim stop is offered during summer and the shoulder season and depends on weather and local conditions. Bring swimwear if you are visiting during a suitable season.