Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Comino Caves Private Boat Tour

The best part of this private RIB tour is how much of Comino you can see in only two hours. You move from the calm waters of Crystal Lagoon to the crowded fame of Blue Lagoon, then slip into caves and quiet bays that larger boats cannot approach as closely. Francesco and his brother keep the outing personal and can adjust the pace to your group.

I like the powerful Yamaha V6 250 engine, which gives the ride some proper zip, and I like the chance to swim in several different settings rather than stopping at one beach. The main catch is the short running time, especially once you add the €99 fuel surcharge to the $234 group price. This is a fast sampler, not a full-day cruise.

Key points to know

• Private boat for up to eight people: You get the boat to yourselves, with room to shape the pace around swimming, photos, and sightseeing.
• Three excellent water stops: Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, and Santa Marija Bay each offer a different setting.
• Caves and rock formations: The captain takes you near Santa Maria Caves and other openings around Comino.
• Francesco and his brother: Their friendly, flexible approach has been a major part of the experience for families and couples.
• Snorkeling equipment and a cooler included: Bring your own towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and beachwear.
• Extra cost to watch: The advertised price excludes a €99 fuel surcharge, so check the total before booking.

A fast, private way to see Comino

Comino is small, but its coast is packed with dramatic rock shelves, sea caves, narrow channels, and bright swimming water. A private boat lets you cover the main sights without committing to a packed group cruise or spending the day walking between separate bays.

You can book for up to eight people at $234 per group. That works out well for a full party, but the value is less striking for only one or two people, especially after the €99 fuel surcharge. For a family or group of friends, the private format can be a smart buy because the price is shared rather than charged per passenger.

The boat is a RIB powered by a Yamaha V6 250 engine. That means this is not a slow sightseeing barge. You should expect a lively ride between stops, with wind, spray, and quick changes of pace. The speed is part of the fun, though anyone who prefers a gentle cruise should keep that in mind.

The tour lasts two hours. That sounds brief, and it is. Still, the route packs in several stops, and the captain uses the time well by combining short photo pauses with swim points and boat-based sightseeing. You will not have long stretches to sit on a beach, but you can see a generous slice of Comino and the southern coast of Gozo.

From the harbor to Saint Mary’s Tower

Pickup is offered from two general areas, Ghajnsielem and Mellieha. The more detailed meeting information names Cirkewwa Terminal in Malta or Mgarr Marina in Gozo, so confirm the exact pickup point when you book. That small check matters because the two locations are on opposite sides of the channel.

The first major sight is Saint Mary’s Tower, the square stone watchtower on Comino. The boat pauses for photographs and a short guided explanation, giving you a useful landmark before the swimming begins. From the water, the tower helps you understand Comino’s exposed position between Malta and Gozo.

The stop is listed at about ten minutes, with time for sightseeing and possibly a swim or snorkel. Do not expect an extended visit on land. This is mainly a scenic introduction, and the best views come from the boat.

Crystal Lagoon offers the calmer swim

Crystal Lagoon is often the more appealing early stop for people who want a quieter swim. The water is clear, the rock walls feel close and dramatic, and the setting has a more sheltered character than Blue Lagoon’s famous central inlet.

You get about twenty minutes here. That is enough for a brisk swim, a little snorkeling, or photographs from the boat. Bring beachwear under your clothes if you want to get in quickly. With a two-hour tour, changing outfits on board would eat into your water time.

The included snorkeling equipment is useful here, particularly if you want to look below the surface rather than simply float. Bottled water and an ice cooler are also provided. The description says you may have access to a GoPro for underwater photographs, but confirm how that works before relying on it for your own pictures.

Crystal Lagoon is also a good place to judge the motion of the boat and the sea conditions. If you are traveling with children, this may be a comfortable first swim before the faster ride and cave passages.

Blue Lagoon is famous for a reason

Blue Lagoon, between Comino and Cominotto, is the signature stop. Its pale, clear water photographs beautifully, and it is the place most people picture when they think of Comino.

The boat allows around twenty minutes for swimming and snorkeling. That is enough to cool off and enjoy the water, but it is not enough for a lazy half-day visit. Blue Lagoon can feel very busy, particularly during the warmer months, so the private boat’s advantage is not that it removes every other boat from view. Its advantage is that you can enjoy the water without joining a large passenger group or waiting for a fixed crowd schedule.

From the boat, you can swim rather than search for a patch of shore. This saves time and gives you access to the water without carrying beach gear across the island. If you want a quiet beach day, this tour will feel rushed. If you want a quick swim at Malta’s most famous water stop, the timing works better.

The stop at Cominotto adds a useful visual contrast. This small islet helps frame the lagoon and makes clear why the water is so sheltered. The boat pauses for photographs and sightseeing, rather than treating it as a long shore visit.

Caves, narrow passages, and Elephant Rock

The cave section is where the tour becomes more than a standard lagoon circuit. Around Santa Maria Caves, the boat moves close to the rock openings, where sunlight reaches the water in shifting patterns. The captain guides the RIB through narrow sections when conditions allow.

You may have time to swim near the caves and look back toward the entrance. One especially memorable possibility is swimming into deeper cave water, something that requires comfort in the sea and a reasonable level of confidence. This is not the right activity for anyone with serious mobility concerns, back problems, or heart problems, all of which are specifically listed as unsuitable.

Elephant Rock is another strong photo stop. The rock formation has a distinctive shape, and the boat gives you a good angle without requiring a long walk. The stop is listed at about thirty minutes, making it one of the longer parts of the outing. It can include sightseeing, swimming, and snorkeling, so this is a good point to choose between taking photographs and getting back in the water.

If you are hoping to jump from rocks, use care and follow the captain’s instructions. The experience includes swimming near rock shelves, but it does not promise a particular jumping spot or guarantee that sea conditions will allow it.

Santa Marija Bay gives you a quieter pause

Santa Marija Bay is a brief stop, listed at roughly five minutes, but it adds another side of Comino. Instead of focusing only on the most famous lagoon, the route gives you a look at a calmer bay where you can pause for photographs and hear a little about the area.

The short timing tells you how to treat it: enjoy the view from the boat rather than expecting a long beach break. Santa Marija Bay works as a change of pace between the more active water stops and the cave section.

The guide also shares information about Comino’s history, geology, and sea life during the route. The depth of that commentary will depend on your questions and the guide’s pace, but the format allows for a conversation rather than a recorded speech. That is one benefit of a private group.

Southern Gozo adds a different coastline

After Comino, the boat passes Gozo and reaches the southern coast. The route includes time at a secluded beach, where you can swim, walk on the sand, or sit in the sun.

This section helps keep the trip from becoming a single-island lagoon tour. Gozo has a different feel from Comino, and seeing its coast from the water adds variety. Still, the published stop is described as a pass by in the ten-minute range, while the wider description presents the beach as a place to relax. Ask the captain how much shore time is planned on your departure, since the exact balance may change with sea conditions and your group’s choices.

For me, the Gozo portion is most valuable if you have already seen Blue Lagoon on another trip or if you want photographs beyond the standard Comino views. If this is your first visit and you mainly want to swim, you may prefer to use every spare minute at Crystal Lagoon or the caves.

What the private format changes

A private boat is not just a label. It changes how you use the two hours. With no unrelated passengers to satisfy, you can tell the captain if your group wants more swimming, more cave time, or extra photographs.

That flexibility mattered to a family with children aged three, eight, and eleven. The captain and his brother adjusted the experience around the family, and the children enjoyed the lagoons and boat ride. Very young children still need close supervision around the water and on a fast-moving RIB, but the private setting is easier to manage than a large shared boat.

A private group also makes conversation easier. Francesco has been praised for his local passion and for making the surrounding waters more interesting through stories about Comino. You can ask about the tower, rock formations, bays, and sea life as you pass them.

There are limits. A private boat does not guarantee empty water at Blue Lagoon, perfect weather, or unlimited time at every stop. The captain still needs to work with waves, wind, safety rules, and the two-hour schedule.

Is $234 plus fuel a fair price?

The advertised cost is $234 for up to eight people, with a €99 fuel surcharge not included. You should calculate the total in your own currency before booking, because the surcharge makes a noticeable difference.

For eight people, the base price is about $29 per person before fuel and any currency changes. Even after the surcharge, the group rate can compare well with buying several seats on a large cruise, especially if you value having your own boat and captain.

For two people, the arithmetic is less favorable. You are paying for privacy, speed, flexibility, and a route that covers several sites in a short time. If you only want a long swim at Blue Lagoon, a cheaper shared option may suit you better. If you strongly dislike crowded boats, the private setup may justify the extra cost.

The tour includes snorkeling equipment, bottled water, and an ice cooler. You should still bring your own towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and beachwear. Food is not listed as an inclusion, although fresh snacks were provided on one outing, so do not count on snacks unless the operator confirms them.

Who should book this boat tour?

I would choose this trip for a small family, a group of friends, or a couple who wants privacy and a quick look at several coastal sights. It is especially useful if you have limited time in Malta but still want to see Comino’s major lagoons and caves.

It suits people who enjoy active sightseeing. You can swim, snorkel, take photographs, and ride between stops at speed. The RIB makes the route exciting, but it is not the best choice if you want a quiet, slow cruise or a long afternoon on one beach.

Families should consider the ages and confidence of everyone in the group. The private format helps with flexibility, but the tour still involves open-water swimming, a powerful boat, rock formations, and cave passages. Anyone with back or heart problems should avoid it.

The activity is offered with English and Maltese guiding. Reservations can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours ahead, and you can reserve now and pay later. Bad weather can also lead to cancellation, with safety taking priority.

Final verdict: book it for variety and privacy

Book this tour if you want to see more than Blue Lagoon and prefer a private, active outing to a large cruise. The strongest parts are the range of stops, the cave access, the fast RIB, and the personal service from Francesco and his brother.

Think twice if your ideal day means lingering on a beach, spending hours snorkeling, or keeping costs as low as possible. Two hours passes quickly, and the €99 fuel surcharge must be added to the advertised price.

For a small group that wants a concentrated taste of Comino, the Crystal Lagoon, the caves, Saint Mary’s Tower, Elephant Rock, and southern Gozo, this is a well-focused choice. Confirm the pickup point and final price, bring your swim gear, and be ready to get in the water.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The tour lasts two hours. Additional hours may be requested in advance if you want more time on the water.

How many people can join the private boat?

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

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is offered around Ghajnsielem and Mellieha. The detailed pickup information names Cirkewwa Terminal in Malta or Mgarr Marina in Gozo, so confirm the exact meeting point with the operator.

What equipment and refreshments are included?

Snorkeling equipment, bottled water, and an ice cooler are included. You should bring a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and beachwear.

Is the fuel charge included in the advertised price?

No. A €99 fuel surcharge is listed separately from the $234 group price.

Can the tour be cancelled because of weather?

Yes. Reservations may be cancelled because of adverse weather conditions, with safety given priority. You can also cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.