Malta Private Charter from Mellieha: Gozo, Comino, Blue Lagoon

The best Malta views come from the water. This private charter gives you a captain, your own boat, and the freedom to shape a three-hour outing around Comino, Gozo, and the Blue Lagoon. I like the private format, which keeps your group away from a large boat’s fixed schedule, and I like the chance to reach narrow caves and quieter swimming spots. The main catch is the extra €79 fuel charge, paid to the skipper after the trip.

For up to six people, the listed price of $337.55 is for the boat, not each person. That can be good value for a family or group of friends, especially when you split the cost. Snorkeling gear, marina costs, and national reserve anchoring fees are included, but you should budget for fuel, food, drinks, and towels.

The meeting point is at the Cirkewwa café beside the port in Mellieha. You can also arrange pickup at Cirkewwa Marina or Gozo Marina, and the captain can finish at Gozo or Malta if that suits your plans. The trip is offered in English, and the skipper can adjust the day around swimming, snorkeling, sightseeing, or simply cruising.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to six: You pay for the whole boat, so the value improves with a full group.
• Blue Lagoon without a beach day crowd: The boat anchors in the clearer parts of the lagoon for swimming and snorkeling.
• Caves are a major part of the outing: The smaller boat can enter some caves and reach coves that larger boats cannot approach safely.
• The captain shapes the route: Skippers such as Pedro, Ginger, Upie, Mahmoud, Jimmy, Chris, and Casper have been praised for adapting stops to each group.
• Bring provisions: A cooler is available, but water, snacks, and drinks are not listed as included.
• Allow for the fuel charge: A one-time €79 fuel payment is made to the skipper after the excursion.

Why a private charter works well around Comino

Malta’s Blue Lagoon is famous for good reason. The water is remarkably clear, and the pale rock and white sand make it look almost painted. It is also one of the busiest water stops in the islands, so the private boat matters most here.

Instead of arriving with a large crowd and settling wherever space is available, your captain can anchor in a preferred part of the lagoon. You can swim, use the provided mask and snorkel, or stay aboard and take photographs. The listed Blue Lagoon stop is around 30 minutes, but the captain can adjust the balance of swimming and cruising to suit your group.

I would not book this boat expecting complete solitude at Blue Lagoon. It is a famous place, and other boats will be nearby. The advantage is control, comfort, and the ability to enjoy the water from the boat rather than squeezing onto the beach.

This format suits families, couples who want privacy, and groups with mixed interests. One person can snorkel while another relaxes on board. A group that does not want to swim can ask for more sightseeing around Comino and Gozo instead.

From Cirkewwa to the Blue Lagoon

The trip begins at Cirkewwa, Malta’s northern ferry area. Look for the only kiosk or café near the stated meeting point. The instructions are simple, but give yourself enough time to find the port area, especially if you are arriving by taxi or public transport.

Pickup is also possible at Cirkewwa Marina or Gozo Marina. The boat can return to its starting point, or you can arrange to finish on Gozo or Malta Island. That flexibility is useful if you are building the charter into a larger day, though you should confirm the exact drop-off plan before boarding.

Cirkewwa puts you close to Comino, so the early part of the outing can reach the lagoon without a long transfer. The short journey leaves more time for coves, caves, and swimming.

Santa Marija Bay and Cominotto Beach

Santa Marija Bay sits on the quieter northern side of Comino. Its horseshoe-shaped beach has pale sand and tamarisk trees behind it, giving the bay a softer, more sheltered feel than the Blue Lagoon.

Nearby Little Santa Marija is especially suited to snorkeling. The seabed supports marine life, including parrotfish, and the smaller bay can offer a calmer alternative to the better-known lagoon. The tour also passes the Comino police station and the island’s medieval chapel, which has an unusual, almost western-film appearance.

The scheduled visit is short, around 10 minutes, so do not count on a long beach stop here unless your captain changes the plan. The main appeal is seeing the bay from the water and exploring the nearby caves and coves.

Cominotto Beach is another boat-access-only stop. The boat anchors off the beach in clear water, and the area is linked with films such as Troy and Swept Away. A swim-through cave of about 50 meters crosses toward the other side of the island, adding a little adventure to the stop.

These smaller locations show why a private boat is more useful than a standard sightseeing cruise. The captain can approach the coast, pause for photographs, and decide how much time the sea conditions and your interests allow.

Crystal Lagoon and Comino’s caves

Crystal Lagoon is one of the strongest parts of the route. Turquoise water meets a rocky coast lined with caves, and some caves contain small sandy areas inside. The boat is designed to enter certain caves, depending on conditions and access.

This is a good place to use the included snorkeling equipment. The lagoon is described as a snorkeling area, although the exact swim stop depends on the season and what your group prefers. You can also ask the skipper to focus on cave exploration instead.

The lagoon has appeared in films including Popeye, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Troy. Those connections are a fun extra, but the real draw is the rock formations and the chance to see the coastline from water level. A captain can point out filming areas, local history, and small details that are easy to miss from shore.

The boat’s size is useful here. Several reviews praise captains for steering into small caves and for taking photographs. Jimmy, in particular, was praised for helping with photos, Bluetooth music, a cooler, and a portable phone charger. Those extras are not guaranteed as formal inclusions, so treat them as possible onboard comforts rather than promises.

Saint Mary’s Tower above the cliffs

As the boat moves around Comino, you will see Saint Mary’s Tower high above the coast. Built in the 17th century, it formed part of a defensive network designed to warn of pirates, smugglers, and invading forces.

The tower also represented Château d’If in the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo. The stop itself is brief, around five minutes, and is mainly a passing landmark rather than a shore visit. Still, it gives the cruise a useful layer of Maltese history between the swim stops.

If you enjoy photography, this is a good moment to have your phone ready. The tower, high cliffs, and blue water make a strong combination from the boat.

Gozo’s southern coast and Hondoq Bay

The charter continues toward Gozo, often following the southern coast. The route can include Ħalfa Rock, a small island with steep cliffs and a secluded bay on its Gozo side. The area also has salt pans worked in traditional ways, and the sheltered water is associated with octopus and sargo bream.

Hondoq ir-Rumien Bay adds another coastal scene. The beach has clear turquoise water, while nearby Bemberin Gorge can only be reached by boat. Its caves and air pockets offer a more enclosed setting, and the area includes spots used for cliff jumping.

Do not assume cliff jumping is part of the tour or that conditions will allow it. The information describes vantage points, not a guaranteed activity. Ask your captain about safety and access, and follow the skipper’s advice.

Gozo’s coast feels different from the headline attraction at Blue Lagoon. Instead of one iconic swimming area, you get a sequence of rock shelves, caves, small beaches, and open sea views. The captain’s route choices matter here, especially if the water is choppy.

Mġarr Harbour and Qala

Mġarr Harbour is Gozo’s main sea gateway and a pleasant change of pace after the caves. Fishing boats, yachts, and working boats share the harbor, while Fort Chambray overlooks the area. A small Gothic chapel dedicated to Lourdes sits close to the fort, with a statue tucked into the cliff below.

The harbor stop is listed at about eight minutes. You will probably see it from the water rather than make a full shore visit, but it gives you a look at everyday Gozo life and the island’s approach from the sea.

The boat may then pass Qala on Gozo’s southeastern side. This coast has caves, pebbly beaches, and fortifications toward the eastern point. It is a short sightseeing section, but it helps complete the picture of Gozo’s varied shoreline.

The itinerary also includes a second Crystal Lagoon listing and a pass near Cominotto Reef. That signals the route is not a strict march from one attraction to the next. Some places are viewed while cruising, others are used for swimming, and the skipper can combine them according to time and conditions.

What the three hours really feel like

Three hours is enough for a satisfying taste of the area, but it is not enough for a slow visit to every beach and cave. The stated stops add up to more than three hours if each one receives its full listed time, so think of the schedule as a menu of possible sights rather than a promise of lengthy stops everywhere.

A typical outing will mix cruising, short landmark passes, one or more swimming stops, and cave exploration. If swimming is your priority, tell the captain early. If you do not swim, you can request more time around Comino and Gozo, as one group did with Jimmy.

Several captains have been praised for making the boat comfortable in changing conditions. Mahmoud was singled out for handling choppy waves while paying attention to comfort, and other skippers were praised for keeping the pace relaxed. That does not make the Mediterranean perfectly calm, so anyone prone to seasickness should think carefully about a small-boat outing.

The boat has been described as clean, spacious, and immaculate. Some outings included floats and pool noodles, though these are not listed among the guaranteed inclusions. A cooler is available, and some captains may offer small conveniences such as music connection or phone charging.

Price, fuel, and what you should bring

The listed price is $337.55 per group of up to six. At six people, that works out to roughly $56 per person before fuel. At four people, it is about $84 each, and for two people it becomes a much more expensive private experience.

The €79 fuel cost changes the calculation. Split among six, it adds about €13 per person. Split among two, it adds about €40 each. The fuel payment is made directly to the skipper after the tour, so include it when comparing this charter with shared boat trips.

Included costs cover marina fees, snorkeling masks and snorkels, and anchoring fees for the Blue Lagoon, Comino, and Crystal Lagoon National Reserve. Food and drinks are not included, and one piece of practical advice is especially useful: buy water and snacks near the port before boarding. Bring a towel, sunglasses, and sun protection. Water was not included as a standard provision, so do not expect complimentary bottles.

The best value comes when you fill the boat and care about privacy. If you are a solo visitor or a couple, a shared cruise may cost less, but it will not offer the same control over stops.

Captains and the personal touch

The captain can make or break a short boat trip. This company uses several skippers, including Pedro, Ginger, Upie, Mahmoud, Jimmy, Chris, Casper, Noel, Owen, Adin, Justin, Dani, Men, and others.

The strongest praise centers on friendliness, careful boat handling, and flexibility. Ginger was repeatedly described as entertaining and accommodating. Upie was praised for finding quieter swimming areas. Mahmoud received credit for both route planning and comfort in choppy water. Chris was praised for a pleasant approach with a child who had special needs.

That range matters because the experience is not just transport. You are spending three hours in a small space with the captain, relying on that person to judge caves, waves, anchoring, and timing. The company can assign the skipper, so you cannot count on requesting a particular person, but the consistent pattern of positive feedback is reassuring.

Who should book this charter?

I would choose this boat for a family, a group of friends, or anyone who values privacy over the lowest price. It is particularly good for people who want a mixture of swimming, snorkeling, photography, and local stories without committing to a full-day cruise.

It also suits mixed groups. Strong swimmers can get in the water, while others can remain aboard. Non-swimmers can request sightseeing, and families can ask the captain to avoid the busiest areas when possible.

I would hesitate if you want a full shore visit on Gozo, a long beach stay, or a guaranteed quiet Blue Lagoon. The trip covers a lot of coastline in a short time, and sea conditions can affect the route. It is also less attractive for a small party if the added fuel charge pushes the cost beyond your budget.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. The trip requires good weather, and a weather cancellation brings a different date or a full refund. Service animals are allowed, most people can participate, and the activity is private for your group only.

Should you book it?

Book this Malta private charter if you want to make the most of three hours on the water and can share the cost with several people. The best reasons are the private boat, the skilled captains, access to caves and boat-only coves, and the chance to swim at Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon without being tied to a large group’s timetable.

Before you pay, confirm the €79 fuel charge, your pickup and drop-off point, and what you want most from the route. Bring drinks, snacks, towels, and sun protection. If your group of up to six wants a flexible half-day taste of Comino and Gozo, this is a strong choice. If you mainly want a cheap transfer or a long beach day, choose something simpler.

FAQ

How long is the private charter?

The experience lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join the boat?

The price covers one private boat for up to six people.

Where does the charter start?

The standard meeting point is the Cirkewwa café near Cirkewwa Port in Mellieha. Pickup can also be arranged at Cirkewwa Marina or Gozo Marina.

Can the boat finish somewhere other than the starting point?

Yes. The trip can return to its starting point, or the skipper can drop you at Gozo or Malta Island, depending on the arrangement.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Masks and snorkels are provided on board.

Is fuel included in the listed price?

No. There is a one-time €79 fuel charge, paid to the skipper after the tour.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.