Comino Private Boat Tours: Blue/Crystal Lagoon, Malta & Gozo

Comino’s best scenery is found from the water, where pale cliffs, sea caves, and bright swimming spots unfold far faster than they do on foot. This private charter takes you past Roofless Cave, Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto, and Blue Lagoon, with time for swimming and snorkelling along the way.

I like the private format, since you can ask the skipper to adjust the route rather than follow a fixed group schedule. I also like the practical setup: shaded seating, snorkel gear, an ice cooler, Wi-Fi, and a Bluetooth speaker. The main caution is the price structure. The advertised $17 per person does not include the professional skipper or fuel, each listed at €44, so confirm the full cost before booking.

Key points at a glance

• Crystal Lagoon swimming stop: Plan on clear water, snorkelling, and a chance to look for marine life.
• Private route around Comino: You can choose your stops or leave the plan to the skipper.
• Mario may be your skipper: He is praised for clear explanations, friendly service, safe handling, and good photos.
• Small boat comforts: The vessel includes a canopy, seating, life vests, snorkel equipment, an ice cooler, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth audio.
• One-hour listed duration: The schedule includes several scenic passes and two lagoon stops, so ask how much swimming time is available.
• Convenient northern pickup: Departure and return are at Ċirkewwa or the Gozo Channel ferry area, with an option near Mġarr Harbour in Gozo.

Why Comino looks best from a private boat

Comino is compact, but its coast is full of small details. From land, you may see a beach or cliff face. From the water, you can turn toward a cave, pause beside a rock formation, or enter a quiet cove before continuing toward the lagoons.

That flexibility is the main reason to choose this trip over a standard boat outing. You are not simply carried around the island with a fixed crowd. The skipper can shape the ride around your priorities, whether that means more photographs, a short swim, snorkelling, or a slower look at the coast.

The boat also gives you a useful break from Malta’s heat. The canopy provides shade, while the sundeck offers a place to stretch out between stops. An ice cooler is included, but food and drinks are not, so bring your own refreshments if permitted and useful for your plans.

The advertised price is attractive at $17 per person, but it needs careful reading. The professional skipper costs €44, and fuel costs another €44. Those charges may be relevant to the whole private charter rather than each person, but you should verify the final amount for your group before paying. For a larger party, the total may offer good value. For one or two people, the extras can change the calculation.

Starting near Ċirkewwa or Mġarr Harbour

The boat runs from two northern Malta meeting areas. In Malta, the departure point is near Ċirkewwa Kiosk inside the Gozo Channel terminal area. In Gozo, it is near Sicilia Bella Restaurant in the Mġarr Harbour departure area.

This location is especially practical if you are already moving between Malta and Gozo. It is less convenient if you are staying far away and treating the boat trip as a quick city excursion. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early. The operator gives the skipper the final say on departure times, routes, and meeting locations if weather, tides, shallow water, or other conditions require a change.

The boat is a speedboat, and the first ride is listed at about 10 minutes. That makes it easy to cover several coastal points in a short outing, though the quick pace can also mean less time at any single place. If you want a relaxed swim rather than a fast sightseeing loop, say so before departure.

Lantern Point and the rocky coast

The first coastal sights include Lantern Point and L-Iskoll ta’ Taħt il-Mazz. These are mainly scenic passes and photo stops rather than long shore visits.

This section gives you a useful introduction to Comino’s character: exposed rock, sharp coastal lines, and water that shifts in color as the boat moves around the island. Keep your camera ready, but do not expect a formal landing at each location. The schedule allows roughly five minutes at each point, which is enough for a quick look and a few pictures.

A speedboat ride can be lively, especially when the sea is not calm. The skipper can alter the route when conditions require it, and that is a practical safety measure rather than a disappointment. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit where the movement feels easiest and keep your first few photographs brief.

Roofless Cave and Comino’s sea caves

Roofless Cave is given more time than the first coastal points, with a listed 10-minute visit and guided sightseeing. The cave is one of the trip’s more distinctive stops because it shows how the sea has cut into Comino’s limestone coast.

You will likely view it from the boat, with the skipper explaining what you are seeing and positioning the vessel for photographs. The cave is not presented as a walking excursion, so wear swimwear and shoes suited to a boat rather than expecting a land-based cave tour.

This is also where a private boat can feel more personal. You can ask for a second look or request a slower pass if the sea and schedule allow. The exact route remains subject to weather and water conditions.

Crystal Lagoon is the best reason to pack a mask

Crystal Lagoon is scheduled for about 20 minutes, with time to stop, swim, snorkel, and look for marine life. Of all the listed points, this is the one I would prioritize for anyone who wants to get into the water.

The supplied mask and snorkel make the stop simple. You do not need to arrange separate equipment, and life vests are available for safety. Bring your own towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, and sunglasses. The water can look inviting enough to make you forget the sun, but the canopy does not replace sunscreen.

Twenty minutes passes quickly once the boat anchors. Allow time to get ready, enter the water, swim, and climb back aboard. If swimming is your main aim, ask whether the route can give Crystal Lagoon more attention. On a short charter, every extra photo pass reduces water time.

The skipper selects the anchoring spot, aiming for a more private place away from the thickest crowds. That does not guarantee solitude, especially around Malta’s most famous lagoons, but it gives you a better chance of finding a calmer corner than a large shared boat might.

Cominotto and the approach to Blue Lagoon

Cominotto is listed as a short sightseeing and photo stop, with about 10 minutes allocated. The small island adds another angle to the view and helps you see how closely the Comino area is packed with coves, rock shelves, and narrow channels.

You may pass rather than land, so think of this as a coastal viewing point. The boat’s position on the water is the attraction. From here, the route continues toward Blue Lagoon, the best-known swimming area in the region.

Blue Lagoon includes free time for sightseeing, swimming, snorkelling, and sailing. It is the broad finale of the route, but it is also the place where expectations matter most. The water is famously clear, yet the lagoon is a popular stop and may feel less peaceful than the phrase private boat suggests.

The private charter helps because you can approach the lagoon on your own boat and decide how long to stay within the available schedule. Still, the skipper cannot remove every other boat from the area. If quiet water is your priority, ask about visiting at the most suitable time of day, keeping in mind that the operator can adjust the start time to match conditions.

What Mario adds to the trip

Mario is the skipper repeatedly named in the feedback for this experience. His strengths are clear: friendly communication, safety-conscious handling, useful explanations, and a willingness to adjust plans.

One particularly practical point is his flexibility. A last-minute change was accommodated, and a swim at Blue Lagoon became possible. That does not mean every request can be granted, but it suggests you should speak up about what matters most before the boat leaves.

Mario has also been praised for taking good pictures and videos. That can be a nice bonus on a boat trip, where it is awkward to manage a phone while swimming or holding onto the rail. Ask before the ride if you want help with photos, and protect your phone from spray.

The skipper provides commentary in English and shares historical information about Malta, Gozo, and the surrounding coast. You will get more from the trip if you ask questions rather than treating the boat only as transportation.

Boat comforts that matter in the midday sun

The equipment list is sensible rather than extravagant. You get private seating, a shaded canopy, a sundeck, safety equipment, life vests, snorkel gear, an ice cooler, Wi-Fi, and a Bluetooth speaker.

The shade is the most important feature. Malta’s sun can make a short outing feel long when there is nowhere to get out of it. The cooler is useful for keeping drinks cold, though you need to supply food and beverages yourself.

Bluetooth audio lets you play your own music, which suits a private group celebrating or relaxing together. Keep the volume considerate when near other boats and coastal areas. Wi-Fi is also included, though its value depends on the connection offshore.

There is no fishing equipment, and the charter is not presented as a fishing trip. The focus is sightseeing, swimming, snorkelling, caves, and beaches. If you want a quiet ride, you can simply leave the speaker off and let the water and skipper’s commentary carry the experience.

Is one hour enough for this route?

The listed duration is one hour, but the detailed schedule describes 10 minutes of speedboat travel, several scenic passes, and stops at Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon. The listed stop times alone add up to more than one hour, so you should confirm the exact operating duration and how the time is divided.

This matters because the experience can feel very different depending on your goal. If you want a brisk overview of Comino with short swims, the schedule makes sense as a compact outing. If you want an unhurried day on the water, a longer private charter may be more suitable.

You can make the short format work by choosing your priorities before departure. A good plan might be one cave pass, a focused swim at Crystal Lagoon, and a brief look at Blue Lagoon. Trying to linger everywhere could leave you feeling rushed.

The return speedboat ride is listed at about 10 minutes, ending at Ċirkewwa or the Gozo Channel ferry area. Keep your onward plans flexible. The skipper may alter the route or return point when conditions demand it, and late arrival will not extend the charter.

Who will get the most from this charter?

I would choose this trip for a couple, family, or small group that values privacy and wants a boat built around its own interests. It is also a good fit for a celebration, since you can bring a playlist and use the shaded seating between swims.

Snorkellers should like the included equipment and the stops at Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon. Families may appreciate the life vests, cooler, shade, and short speedboat transfers, though wheelchair users cannot take this activity.

This is less suitable if you want a long beach stay, a formal historical tour, or a guaranteed quiet lagoon. It is also not ideal if you dislike speedboats or prefer a fully inclusive price with food, fuel, and crew already bundled.

The high satisfaction score of 4.9 from 23 ratings fits the strongest parts of the experience: Mario’s personal service, a clean and well-kept boat, good communication, and the freedom to adjust the outing. The feedback is not a promise of perfect weather or unlimited swim time, but it does point to a dependable human element.

Practical booking advice before you pay

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility is useful for a sea trip because weather can affect the route.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and cash. Food and drinks are not included. Arrive 30 minutes early, especially if you are connecting with the Gozo ferry or driving toward Ċirkewwa.

Ask four questions before confirming:

• Is the $17 price per person, and how are the €44 skipper and €44 fuel charges applied?
• Is the actual charter one hour, or is a longer duration available?
• Which stops will receive the most time?
• Is Mario scheduled to skipper your departure?

These questions remove the two main uncertainties: total cost and time in the water.

Should you book Comino Private Boat Tours?

Book it if you want a personal speedboat ride with Comino’s caves, Crystal Lagoon, and Blue Lagoon in one compact outing. The skipper’s flexibility, included snorkel gear, shade, and private setting give it more value than a bare sightseeing transfer.

I would be cautious if the extra skipper and fuel fees push the total beyond your budget, or if you expect a full day of swimming. Confirm the final price and duration first. For a small group that can share the added charges, this is a practical way to see Malta’s northern coast with a friendly skipper and control over the route.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour depart?

You can meet the boat near Ċirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel terminal area, or near Sicilia Bella Restaurant in the Mġarr Harbour departure area on Gozo.

How long does the activity last?

The advertised duration is one hour. The detailed route also lists several sightseeing passes and lagoon stops, so confirm the exact timing and stop lengths when booking.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The activity is arranged for a private group, and you can choose your preferred exploration points or follow the skipper’s recommendations.

Is a professional skipper included in the price?

The professional skipper is listed separately at €44. Fuel is also listed separately at €44, so check the complete price before confirming.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are included, along with safety equipment and life vests.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and cash. Food and drinks are not included.

Can wheelchair users join the tour?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.