Tour in Malta Boat Charter to Comino and Gozoand Blue Lagoon

The best Malta views come from the water. This private three-hour charter packs Comino, Gozo, the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, sea caves, reefs, and quiet swimming spots into one flexible trip. I like the way your skipper can adjust the route to your group, and I especially like that the boat can reach shallow coves and caves that larger vessels must pass by. The price is $349.51 per group of up to eight, which can be good value for a family or group, though fuel and a listed Blue Lagoon fee add extra cost.

The main tradeoff is time. Three hours goes quickly when you want swimming, snorkeling, cave visits, and sightseeing around two islands. Boats also vary in size and comfort, so you should confirm the exact boat and all extra charges before paying. Still, with a 4.9 rating from 127 ratings and 95 percent of customers recommending it, this is a strong choice for an active half-day on the Maltese sea.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to eight people: You avoid sharing the trip with a large crowd and can shape the outing around swimming, caves, family needs, or sightseeing.
• Two major swim stops: The Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon offer clear water, with snorkeling equipment supplied.
• Cave access is a real strength: The boat can enter some sea caves and reach coves that are difficult or impossible to visit from shore.
• Skippers make the difference: Justin, Noel, Mario, Jo, Pedro, Josef, and others are praised for friendly service, safe handling, local information, and adapting the route.
• Pickup is flexible: You can start at Cirkewwa in Malta or Mġarr Harbour in Gozo, with possible drop-off on either island if arranged ahead.
• Budget for extras: Fuel is listed at €79, and a separate Blue Lagoon fee of €79 per booking is also shown, so clarify the final total.

Why a private boat makes sense at the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is Malta’s famous postcard stop, a bright patch of water between Comino and Cominotto. White sand sits on either side, and the water can look so clear that swimming there feels like using a giant natural pool.

The catch is popularity. This is not a quiet secret, and the shoreline can feel crowded. A private boat gives you a better way to experience it because the skipper can anchor in the clearest part of the lagoon rather than leaving you tied to one busy patch of beach.

You can swim and snorkel here, take photographs from the boat, and enjoy the color of the water without treating the beach as your only base. The stop is listed at about 30 minutes, so I would use the time well. Bring your towel, sunscreen, and anything you want to drink, then get into the water promptly.

One practical point needs clarification before booking. The price information lists a €79 Blue Lagoon ticket fee per booking, while the inclusions also say admission is not included. It also lists €79 fuel separately. Ask the operator exactly which charges apply to your date and group so the advertised price does not surprise you later.

Santa Marija Bay and Cominotto’s quieter water

Santa Marija Bay lies on the north side of Comino and has a horseshoe curve, pale sand, and tamarisk trees behind the beach. Compared with the Blue Lagoon, it offers a calmer setting and more room for a family stop.

Nearby Little Santa Marija is particularly appealing for snorkeling. The seabed supports marine life, including parrotfish, and the bay gives you a more natural place to look around beneath the surface. The main beach also suits families who want sand for sitting, simple games, or sandcastles.

The boat visit includes the nearby Santa Marija caves and small coves. The scheduled time at the bay is short, around ten minutes, but the wider boat route adds time for looking into the caves and moving along the coast. Do not expect a long beach afternoon here. Think of it as a compact scenic and swimming stop.

Cominotto Beach offers another special pause. You can reach it by private boat, and its clear water and secluded feel make it one of the more memorable parts of the route. A swim-through cave of about 50 meters crosses toward the other side of the island, adding a little adventure to the stop.

The area has also appeared in films including Troy, Swept Away, and The Count of Monte Cristo. That film connection is fun, but the real reward is simple: clear water, dramatic rock, and a spot that larger boats may not be able to approach in the same way.

Crystal Lagoon is the snorkeling highlight

Crystal Lagoon is likely to be the strongest stop for swimmers and snorkelers. Turquoise water surrounds a rocky coast filled with caves, small inlets, and sandy pockets tucked inside the rock.

The boat is designed to enter some caves, depending on conditions and the skipper’s judgment. You may get to look into air pockets, reach a small beach inside a cave, or swim close to rock formations that are easy to miss from an ordinary sightseeing boat.

A short snorkeling stop is planned, although the exact timing depends on the season and what your group wants to do. Masks and snorkels are included, which saves you from packing or renting basic equipment. The boat also has an ice box with ice or a refrigerator, so bringing your own water, food, and drinks is sensible.

Crystal Lagoon has also been used as a setting for films, including Popeye and The Count of Monte Cristo. Your skipper may add historical and film facts while steering between the caves. The strongest guides seem to be those who mix information with a relaxed manner rather than turning the trip into a lecture.

The scheduled visit is about 15 minutes, which sounds brief. In practice, the boat may spend additional time cruising around the lagoon and caves, but you should still tell the skipper early if snorkeling is a priority. On a three-hour charter, every stop competes with the next one.

Cliff jumps, reefs, and the Gozo coast

Hondoq Bay sits on the southern coast of Gozo. The water is blue and clear, but the nearby inlet known as Bemberin Gorge is the more unusual feature. It is reachable by boat and includes caves, air pockets, and several points used for jumping from the cliffs.

The cliff-jumping opportunity is optional and should depend on your confidence, the sea conditions, and the skipper’s advice. You do not need to jump to enjoy the gorge. If your group includes children or cautious swimmers, make that clear and ask for a safer swimming plan.

The Cominotto Reef adds another short coastal passage. The reef is marked by a cardinal mark and is known for groupers and octopus. This is more of a viewing and snorkeling area than a long stop, with about five minutes listed for the visit, but it gives you another chance to see Malta’s underwater life.

Near Qala, on Gozo’s southeast side, the boat passes caves, pebbly beaches, and a fortification at the eastern point. The trip does not give you a land tour of Qala. Instead, you see the coast from the water, which is useful if you want a broad taste of Gozo without spending the day driving across the island.

Mġarr Harbour and Gozo’s southern shore

Mġarr Harbour is a pleasant sight from the boat. Fishing boats, yachts, and working fishermen give it a more lived-in feel than the famous swimming spots. Fort Chambray overlooks the harbor, and a small Gothic chapel dedicated to Lourdes sits nearby with a statue built into the cliff below.

The harbor stop is listed at around five minutes, so treat it as a passing view rather than time to walk ashore. The best use of this part of the trip is to let the skipper point out the harbor, fort, chapel, and the rhythm of Gozo’s waterfront.

The route around Gozo’s southern coast includes Ħalfa Rock, a small island with steep sides and a sheltered bay that can only be reached by boat. You can also see salt pans that have been worked in the same traditional way for generations.

This section feels different from the lagoons. Instead of one famous swimming color, you get small coves, working coastal traditions, rock formations, and the chance to spot areas associated with octopus and sargo bream. It gives the charter a little more substance than a simple Blue Lagoon transfer.

Saint Mary’s Tower and Malta’s film scenery

As you cruise past Comino, Saint Mary’s Tower rises above the cliffs. Built in the 17th century, it formed part of a defensive chain used to warn of invasion and watch for pirates or smugglers.

The tower is also associated with the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo, where it represented the Mediterranean prison Château d’If. Seeing it from the water gives you a better sense of its position and purpose than a quick photograph from a road.

This is one of the advantages of having a skipper rather than simply renting a boat. The scenery is attractive on its own, but a few well-timed details about fortifications, films, and island life make the coastal ride easier to remember.

What the skipper can add to the day

The repeated praise for the skippers focuses on three things: friendliness, safe boat handling, and flexibility. Justin is singled out for making a family trip memorable, while Noel is praised for adjusting the ride to families with children and even helping arrange ice cream from a passing boat.

Other skippers, including Mario, Jo, Pedro, Josef, Buffon, and Upie, are described as helpful and attentive. Jo is praised for fitting many sights into three hours without rushing every stop, and Upie receives credit for handling rough water carefully. These details matter because the route includes open crossings, narrow cave entrances, and shallow water.

The best approach is to tell your skipper what matters most at the start. Say if you want more swimming, more caves, a slower ride for children, or more historical information. A private charter is valuable only if you use its flexibility.

The boats are described as comfortable by some customers, but not everyone found the size ideal. One person felt the boat was smaller than expected, while another preferred the relaxed pace of a powerboat over a faster, more polished cruise. Confirming the boat model or sending a quick message before the trip is a wise step.

Price, pickup, and timing

The listed price is $349.51 for up to eight people. Split eight ways, that is about $44 per person before extras. For a couple, the same price is much less attractive, but for a family or group of friends it can compare well with paying separate fares for several short boat trips.

Pickup is available at Cirkewwa Port in Malta or Mġarr Harbour in Gozo. The trip returns to the starting meeting point unless you arrange another drop-off. The operator says it may be possible to finish on Gozo or Malta, but you must request that in advance.

Allow time to reach the meeting point. One family staying near a cruise stop in Valletta needed about 45 minutes to cross Malta and arranged a taxi with help from the company. If you are arriving by cruise ship, do not cut the connection close. Cirkewwa is at Malta’s northern end.

The tour is offered in English and Italian, while the main booking information lists English. Confirmation arrives at booking time, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, but the boat element means you should be comfortable boarding, sitting on a moving vessel, and entering the sea if you choose to swim.

The cancellation rule is straightforward: cancel at least 24 hours before the start for a full refund. Changes inside 24 hours are not accepted, and late cancellations are not refunded. The trip requires good weather, so a weather cancellation brings either a new date or a full refund.

Who will enjoy this charter most

I would choose this trip for a group that wants swimming and scenery more than a formal island tour. Families with older children, couples sharing the cost with friends, and active groups interested in snorkeling and caves should get the most from it.

It also suits mixed-age groups. Several families with young children had a good time, and skippers adjusted speed and stops to keep children comfortable. The boat’s cooler makes it easy to bring drinks and a simple picnic.

You should think twice if you want a large, luxurious vessel, a full day on land, or long uninterrupted time at one beach. The itinerary covers a lot in three hours, so the experience is active and stop-heavy. It is a taste of Comino and Gozo from the sea, not a complete visit to either island.

Bring sunscreen, towels, water, and food if you want them. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, but your own well-fitting mask may be preferable if you have one. Ask about the boat and the two separate listed €79 charges before finalizing the booking.

Should you book it?

I would book this private charter for six to eight people who want the Blue Lagoon without surrendering the entire day to a crowded shared boat. The combination of Comino’s lagoons, cave access, Gozo’s coast, and an adaptable skipper gives you more variety than a simple harbor cruise.

The value is weaker for a very small party, especially after fuel and the listed Blue Lagoon fee. Still, if your priority is clear water, snorkeling, sea caves, and a personal route, this is one of the more practical ways to see Malta’s northern islands in a short window.

Book it when the sea forecast looks good, confirm every fee, and tell the skipper your priorities. Do that, and the three hours can become one of the most enjoyable parts of your Malta visit.

FAQ

How long is the private boat charter?

The boat trip lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to eight people.

Where can the tour start?

Pickup is available at Cirkewwa Port in Malta or Mġarr Harbour on Gozo.

Does the tour return to the starting point?

The activity ends back at the meeting point. A drop-off on Malta or Gozo may also be possible if you arrange it in advance.

Are masks and snorkels provided?

Yes. Mask and snorkel equipment are included.

Is food or drink included?

Food and drinks are not listed as included. You may bring your own, and the boat has an ice box with ice or a refrigerator.

Is fuel included in the price?

No. Fuel is listed as an additional €79 charge.

Is there an additional Blue Lagoon fee?

The tour information lists a €79 Blue Lagoon fee per booking and says admission is not included. Confirm the exact charge with the operator before booking.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.