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

The best part of this private Malta boat charter is control. From Cirkewwa, your captain can steer toward the Blue Lagoon, Comino’s caves, Crystal Lagoon, and Gozo’s southern coast, then slow the pace for swimming or sightseeing. You can also finish in Gozo instead of returning to Malta.

I like the whole-boat price for up to six people, and I like the small boat’s ability to reach narrow caves and less crowded swimming spots. Captains such as Owen, Ginger, Mahmoud, Jimmy, and Casper have been praised for adjusting the route and keeping the ride comfortable. The main catch is the extra €79 fuel charge, paid to the skipper after the trip.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to six: The $337.55 price covers your group, not each person.
• Blue Lagoon without the beach crush: You can swim from the boat in the clearest parts of the lagoon.
• Caves are a major feature: The boat can enter some coastal caves around Comino and Gozo.
• Snorkeling gear is supplied: Mask and snorkel are included, though you should bring towels, food, and drinks.
• The route can change: Ask for quiet swimming areas, more sightseeing, or a Gozo drop-off.
• Budget for fuel: A one-time €79 fuel payment is not included in the advertised price.

A private start at Cirkewwa Port

The meeting point is Cirkewwa, at the northern end of Malta, beside the only kiosk or café in the port area. That detail matters because Cirkewwa is more transport hub than resort. You will want clear directions, and the operator provides instructions for finding the pickup point.

Pickup can also be arranged at Cirkewwa Marina or Gozo Marina. The boat can return you to your starting point, or leave you at Gozo or Malta Island, depending on your plan. This flexibility is useful if you are building a day around Gozo rather than simply taking a circular cruise.

The advertised duration is about three hours. That is enough time for a strong taste of Comino’s water and a look at Gozo, but it is not a slow, full-day coastal expedition. The long list of possible stops describes what can be covered or selected, not a promise that you will spend equal time at every place.

Why the private format changes the day

On a shared boat, the schedule belongs to the boat operator. Here, your group has the skipper’s attention, and the route can reflect your interests. If swimming matters most, you can spend more time at Blue Lagoon or Crystal Lagoon. If you prefer views and landmarks, you can reduce swim time and cruise farther along Gozo.

This is especially useful for families and mixed groups. One person can snorkel while another stays aboard, and the captain can choose a calmer or quieter stop when conditions allow. A family with teenage daughters enjoyed floats and noodles on board, while another group with a son who has special needs found the skipper attentive and reassuring.

The boat is described in the feedback as clean, spacious, and in some cases brand new. Amenities have included a cooler with ice, towels on the seats, floats, noodles, Bluetooth music, and a portable phone charger. These extras are not all formally listed as guaranteed inclusions, so ask ahead if a particular item matters to you.

Blue Lagoon: beautiful, famous, and busy

The Blue Lagoon sits between Comino and Cominotto. Its white sand and clear, pale water look almost unreal, and the water can feel more like a swimming pool than open sea. It is the signature stop, and the boat anchors in the bluest sections when conditions and traffic permit.

The practical advantage is clear: you can swim from the boat instead of trying to claim a small patch of beach. The lagoon is one of Malta’s most popular sights, so arriving by private boat gives you a better angle on the water and avoids making the beach your only option.

Still, private does not mean private ownership of the lagoon. Other boats will be present, particularly in the busiest season. The benefit is a more personal base, not complete solitude.

Allow enough time for the swim. A short stop can feel rushed if everyone wants photographs, snorkeling, and a leisurely float. If swimming is the reason you booked, say so at the start and ask the skipper to protect that time.

Cominotto and Santa Marija Bay

Cominotto Beach is a small, secluded anchorage reachable by boat. Its pale water and rock formations make it a good place for photographs and a swim, and the coast includes a swim-through cave said to run about 50 meters to the other side of the island.

The cave is an adventure, but do not treat it as a guaranteed activity for every departure. Sea conditions, safety, and the group’s comfort will determine what the skipper can do. The same applies to entering caves elsewhere on the route.

Santa Marija Bay, on Comino’s northern side, has a horseshoe-shaped beach backed by tamarisk trees. Nearby Little Santa Marija is a better snorkeling area, with marine life that can include parrotfish. The beach is more peaceful than Blue Lagoon and suits families who want sand, room for beach games, or a quieter stop.

From the boat, you can also see Santa Marija caves and the small medieval chapel inland. The chapel and the old police station add a little context to what might otherwise be just another swimming bay.

Crystal Lagoon and Comino’s caves

Crystal Lagoon is one of the strongest reasons to choose a small private boat. Turquoise water runs along a rocky coast marked by caves, air pockets, and small sandy places tucked inside the rock. Boats that can maneuver close to the shoreline offer a better look than large vessels passing offshore.

This is a prime snorkeling stop, and mask and snorkel equipment are included. You can expect the captain to point out the best water and explain some of the island’s stories. The lagoon has also appeared in films, including Popeye, The Count of Monte Cristo, and Troy.

The film connection is a pleasant extra, but the real attraction is the water and the rock formations. Bring a waterproof phone case if you plan to photograph from the water, and remember that bright sun can make the surface look calmer and shallower than it is.

Some captains have been praised for taking photographs, throwing bread into the water so fish came closer, and helping less confident swimmers. Those touches depend on the skipper and conditions, but they show the advantage of a private outing: you can ask for help without feeling like one person in a large crowd.

Santa Marija Tower and Comino’s northern coast

As you cruise near the lagoon, Santa Marija Tower rises above the cliffs. Built in the 17th century, it formed part of Malta’s defensive network, used to warn of attackers, pirates, and smugglers.

The tower also represented Château d’If in the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo. You will mainly see it from the water during this short charter, but it gives the cruise a useful connection to Comino’s past.

This is a sightseeing moment rather than a walking stop. If you want to visit every landmark on land, three hours will not be enough. The value here is seeing how the fortification fits into the island’s exposed coastline.

Gozo’s south coast and Ħalfa Rock

The Gozo portion adds variety. Instead of only circling Comino’s lagoons, the boat can cruise the southern coast of Gozo, passing Ħalfa Rock, a small island with steep sides and a sheltered bay accessible only by boat.

The coast also includes salt pans still harvested in traditional ways. These are best understood from the sea, where the pattern of the pans and the low shoreline make sense. The area is associated with octopus and sargo bream, adding interest for anyone watching the water while snorkeling.

Gozo’s coast feels less focused on one famous swimming hole. You get cliffs, small coves, rock shelves, and working coastal scenery. Ask the captain to spend more time here if you have already seen Blue Lagoon or if your group prefers a moving tour to repeated swims.

Hondoq Bay, Qala, and Mġarr Harbour

Hondoq ir-Rumien Bay has clear turquoise water and access to Bemberin Gorge, a narrow inlet with caves and air pockets. The gorge can only be reached by boat, and the surrounding rocks include places used for cliff jumping.

Treat cliff jumping as an option to observe, not an expectation. The water, weather, and your own comfort should decide what you do. The boat’s ability to reach the gorge is more important than trying every activity listed around it.

At Qala, on Gozo’s southeast coast, the boat passes more caves, pebbly beaches, and a fortification at the eastern point of the island. The stop is brief in the planned route, so think of it as coastal viewing rather than a full visit to the town.

Mġarr Harbour is a scenic finish or passing point. Fishing boats, yachts, and fishermen working on nets give the port a lived-in feel. Fort Chambray overlooks the harbor, while a small Gothic chapel dedicated to Lourdes sits near the fort. From the water, these details help you read Gozo as an inhabited island, not just a collection of beaches.

What the price really means

The listed price is $337.55 for up to six people. At full capacity, that works out to roughly $56 per person before fuel, which is reasonable for a private boat, captain, snorkeling equipment, marina charges, and anchoring fees in the protected lagoon areas.

The math changes for smaller groups. Two people pay the full boat rate, so a shared cruise may cost less if you care only about seeing the main sights. The private charter earns its price when you value privacy, route changes, extra comfort, and the chance to swim from the boat away from the busiest beach areas.

Plan for the separate €79 fuel charge. It is paid once to the skipper after the tour, and one past booking found this unexpected because it was not included in the headline price. Add it to your budget from the beginning, especially for a small group.

The advertised price includes marina costs, snorkeling mask and snorkel, and anchoring fees in the Blue Lagoon, Comino, and Crystal Lagoon National Reserve. Food, drinks, and water are not listed as included. Bring your own provisions, and use the cooler if one is available.

The captains and the feel on board

The strongest part of this experience is the skipper. Captains named in the feedback include Owen, Noel, Pedro, Ginger, Joe, Adin, Chris, Justin, Jimmy, Dani, Upie, Casper, Mahmoud, Men, and Isaac. The most consistent praise centers on friendly service, careful handling, local explanations, and the ability to adjust the route.

Jimmy has been especially noted for letting a group connect its own music, helping with photographs, and guiding the boat close to caves. Ginger has been praised for an immaculate boat and a relaxed, informative approach. Mahmoud has been described as skilled and attentive to comfort, including when the sea became choppy.

The experience is not a formal lecture cruise. Information comes naturally while you pass towers, caves, film locations, salt pans, and harbors. If you want more history, ask questions. A good skipper can turn a scenic ride into a more meaningful look at Malta’s defenses, fishing life, and coastline.

Sea conditions, comfort, and what to pack

The water can be calm, but choppy waves are possible. Past outings still felt comfortable in rougher conditions, thanks to attentive boat handling, but anyone prone to seasickness should plan carefully.

Pack a towel, swimsuit, sun protection, sunglasses, food, and drinks. Bring a phone charger if you want one, but do not assume it will be provided every time. Water is not included, so purchase bottles before leaving Cirkewwa.

The boat provides snorkeling equipment, but you may prefer your own mask if fit matters to you. Wear footwear that works around a boat and rocky shorelines, though the supplied details do not specify a required type.

The activity is offered in English. Service animals are allowed, most people can participate, and the outing is private for your group. The operator requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time; later cancellations and changes are not accepted.

Who should book this charter

I would choose this for a family, a group of friends, or a couple that wants the water day to fit its own rhythm. It is also a good choice for a cruise-port visit when you have only a few hours and want a direct route to Comino and Gozo.

You will get the most from it if you enjoy swimming, snorkeling, photographs, and small coastal details. Non-swimmers can still enjoy the ride, caves, cliffs, and commentary, and one skipper helped a nervous swimmer feel safe in the water.

I would think twice if your budget is tight, your group has only one or two people, or you expect a silent, empty Blue Lagoon. The extra fuel fee matters, and three hours passes quickly once you divide time among lagoons, caves, Gozo, and return travel.

Should you book the Malta private charter?

Book it if you want a flexible boat day rather than a fixed sightseeing cruise. The best value comes with four to six people, when the group price spreads across several passengers. You will see the famous Blue Lagoon, but the quieter bays, cave entrances, Crystal Lagoon, and Gozo coastline are what make the private format worthwhile.

Before confirming, make sure you understand the €79 fuel charge, tell the operator your preferred balance of swimming and sightseeing, and ask what boat extras are available. If you do that, this is a practical and memorable way to experience Malta from the water.

FAQ

How much does the private charter cost?

The listed price is $337.55 per group of up to six people. A separate one-time fuel charge of €79 is paid to the skipper after the tour.

How long does the boat trip last?

The experience lasts approximately three hours. The actual time at each location can vary because the route is private and customizable.

Where does the tour start?

The usual meeting point is Cirkewwa port beside the only kiosk or café in the area. Pickup can also be arranged at Cirkewwa Marina or Gozo Marina.

Can the boat drop me off in Gozo?

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

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are provided at no extra charge.

Are Blue Lagoon anchoring fees included?

Yes. Marina costs and anchoring fees in Blue Lagoon, Comino, and Crystal Lagoon National Reserve are included.

Can I choose the itinerary?

Yes. This is a private charter, so you can discuss your interests with the skipper and adjust the balance between swimming, snorkeling, sightseeing, and cruising.

What places can the boat visit?

Possible stops include Blue Lagoon, Santa Marija Bay, Cominotto Beach, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Tower, Gozo’s south coast, Hondoq Bay, Qala, and Mġarr Harbour.

Is food or drinking water provided?

Food and drinks are not listed as included. You should bring your own snacks and beverages, and purchase water before boarding. A cooler may be available.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The trip requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.