Malta: Blue Lagoon and Comino Island tour

The best thing about this Malta boat trip is simple: you get Comino’s famous water without being tied to a large cruise schedule. With only your group and a captain aboard, you can swim, snorkel, take photos, play your own music, and spend more time in the places that suit you.

I like the private group format, especially for families and small celebrations. I also like the useful extras: snorkeling gear, floaties, a shower, an ice box, sun shade, cushions, USB charging, and Bluetooth audio. The main point to check is the final price, since captain and fuel are listed separately even though the headline price is $164 for up to six people.

Quick points before you book

• Your group gets the boat to itself: The charter is for up to six people, plus the captain, so you avoid the packed feel of a large shared cruise.
• Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon are the main swimming stops: You can use the provided snorkeling equipment and floaties in the clear water.
• The captain can shape the route: Weather and sea conditions affect where you stop, and the schedule can be adjusted if you contact the captain ahead of time.
• Early departures help with the crowds: A 9 a.m. start has been especially useful for enjoying Blue Lagoon before the busiest part of the day.
• You can start from Malta or Gozo: Pickup is available at Cirkewwa in Malta or Mgarr Harbour in Gozo.
• Check extra charges carefully: Fuel and the captain are listed as additional group costs, so confirm the complete amount before paying.

Why a private boat changes the Comino experience

Comino is a small island, but the Blue Lagoon draws a large crowd. Shared boats can be good for a lower individual price, yet they usually give you less control over swimming time, music, route, and photo stops. This private trip is aimed at people who would rather pay as a group for room to breathe.

At $164 for up to six people, the advertised rate works out to about $27 per person if you fill every seat. That is a strong group value compared with booking several separate activities. For two people, the per-person cost is much higher, but the privacy and flexibility become the point of the purchase.

I would think of this as a short private charter, not a full-day sailing trip. The listed duration is two to three hours. That is enough for the main lagoons and a few scenic stops, but you will need the three-hour option if you want unhurried swimming, caves, and time around Gozo.

The boat includes a sun shade and cushions, which matter more than they may sound on a hot Maltese day. You still need to bring sunscreen, towels, swimwear, a camera, and your own food and drinks. An ice box is supplied, but refreshments are not.

Setting off from Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour

You choose between Cirkewwa on Malta and Mgarr Harbour on Gozo. Cirkewwa is the practical choice if you are staying on Malta or arriving from the direction of Mellieha. Mgarr is convenient if your day is based on Gozo.

Give yourself time to locate the correct meeting point. The listed drop-off points include the Fisheries Office, Cirkewwa Cafe, and Ċirkewwa, so confirm the exact place with the operator before setting out. This is especially important if you are connecting with a ferry, taxi, or cruise schedule.

The captain is also your local guide. Captains named in the feedback include Momo, Adin, Lyndon, Elton, Noel, Owen, Feby, Martin, Nicholas, Ryan, and Zlatko. The names vary by departure, so you should not book with the expectation of a particular captain unless the company confirms it.

That said, the captain’s role is a major part of the experience. The strongest trips described a skipper who took photos, explained the caves and islands, helped nervous children enter the water, and adjusted the route to the conditions. Momo, Adin, Lyndon, and Elton received especially warm praise for their good humor, local information, and care with families.

Crystal Lagoon: the first serious swim

Crystal Lagoon is often the first major stop. The boat can pause for photographs before you get into the water, giving you a chance to see the pale rock walls and clear sea from a better angle than you would from shore.

This is where the supplied snorkeling equipment and floaties earn their keep. The floaties are helpful in open water, particularly for children or anyone who wants to relax without constantly treading water. A shower on board is useful after you climb back in, though you should still expect a wet boat and bring a towel.

Crystal Lagoon feels more active than a simple sightseeing stop. You may swim, snorkel, and look into the water around the rocky edges. The exact conditions depend on wind and waves, and the captain may alter the stop if the sea is rough.

That flexibility is important. One person’s ideal trip may mean a long swim in calm water, while another group may prefer more cruising and photographs. Tell the captain what matters to you at the start. If you have children, say so clearly, and ask about the safest swimming arrangement.

Blue Lagoon: beautiful water, serious crowds

Blue Lagoon is the famous name on this trip, and the water usually explains why. The color is striking, and swimming here is the central pleasure of the outing. You can snorkel, float, take photos, and return to the boat without carrying your belongings through a busy beach area.

Do not confuse a private boat with a private lagoon. Blue Lagoon remains a popular public attraction, especially in summer. The advantage is that your captain can look for a good anchoring position and choose the best available timing. Several groups found that an early 9 a.m. departure made the stop more comfortable, with fewer people and less heat.

Your captain may also change the order of stops. If wind makes Blue Lagoon uncomfortable, you could spend more time elsewhere or miss the lagoon altogether. That happened to one group, which still enjoyed the caves and the private boat. This is a weather-dependent sea trip, not a guarantee of perfectly calm water.

For the best chance of a quieter swim, choose the earliest available start and keep your schedule flexible. Bring sun cream and water. There is shade on the boat, but the swimming stops are exposed, and the Mediterranean sun is not forgiving.

Comino’s caves and cliffs from the water

The boat tour gives you a view of Comino that you cannot get from a short walk alone. You cruise past cliffs, coves, and caves, stopping for photographs and, when conditions allow, getting close enough to inspect the rock formations.

The hidden caves are one of the more personal parts of the charter. On a large boat, cave visits can feel like a quick pass-by. With a private group, you can ask the captain questions, request a slower look, or spend more time taking pictures if the route and weather allow.

Some captains have also swum with their groups in the caves. That is not something I would assume will happen every time, but it shows how the private format can feel less rigid. Elton was praised for joining a swim in the caves, while other captains were valued for explaining the area and taking photographs.

The boat itself becomes your base between stops. There is a Bluetooth stereo if you want your own music, along with USB charging for phones. That is a small luxury on a short trip, but it helps if you are taking lots of photos and video.

The Gozo coast adds variety

Depending on the chosen route and time available, the boat may continue toward Gozo for another swim or a scenic cruise along the coast. The views from the water give you a different angle on the island, and a Gozo-born captain can add local facts and practical context.

This part of the route is not equally detailed in every two-hour trip. If Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon are your priorities, the shorter option may leave little time for a long Gozo stop. If you want caves, coastal views, and several swims, book three hours and tell the captain before departure.

The tour can include a short break or brief visit around Comino, sometimes near sunset if you choose an appropriate time. That five-minute stop should be treated as a quick pause for views rather than a substantial island visit.

You are not getting a walking tour of Comino or Gozo. This is a water-based look at the islands, with swimming as the main activity. That makes it a good match for people who want scenery without giving up most of the day.

What the boat provides, and what you need

The included equipment is practical rather than flashy:

• Snorkeling gear
• Floaties
• Safety equipment
• Shower
• Ice box
• Sun shade
• Cushions
• Bluetooth audio
• USB charging
• Port fees

Bring your own towels, swimwear, sunscreen, food, drinks, and camera. Food and drinks are not included, so pack enough for the length of your trip. You can use the ice box for keeping refreshments cool, but do not assume that cups, ice, or extra supplies are included unless the operator confirms it.

Some groups were given ice and cups, but that appears to be a helpful extra from individual captains rather than something to count on. The same applies to photography. Captains such as Adin and Mamat were praised for taking excellent pictures, but bring your own camera if those images matter to you.

The boat has a sun shade, but seating space is still limited to a small vessel. Keep your bags compact and protect electronics from spray. You will spend much of the tour in swimwear, so pack only what you need.

Family trips, couples, and small celebrations

This charter works particularly well for families. A private boat gives parents more control over the pace, and the captain can help children who feel unsure about entering open water. One family appreciated Lyndon’s help with a nine-year-old, while another described Momo assisting two nervous young children in life jackets.

Those stories do not mean every child will be comfortable. The lagoons are open-water swimming locations, and the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. Parents should bring suitable flotation support for their children and discuss swimming ability with the captain.

Couples can use the boat for a quieter outing with room for photos and music. Small groups also get good value when they fill most of the six available places. The boat has been used for bachelorette celebrations, family holidays, and quick excursions during a short Malta stop.

If you are arriving on a cruise ship with only a few hours in port, plan the transport carefully. One group arranged a private taxi in advance and completed the boat trip within a tight schedule. I would not leave that connection to chance. Confirm the pickup, return point, and driving time before booking.

Weather is the deciding factor

Wind can change this trip quickly. The clearest water in the world is less enjoyable when the sea is choppy, and a route through caves may not be safe or comfortable in poor conditions. A skilled captain can navigate around the roughest sections, but no operator can control the weather.

The crew may alter the sequence, shorten a stop, or skip Blue Lagoon if conditions are unsuitable. That is the right call for safety, even if it disappoints you. Book this with the mindset that the captain may create the best possible route for the day, rather than deliver every stop in a fixed order.

The captain and fuel are listed as separate group costs in the booking information. One customer specifically wished these extra charges had been clearer before reservation. Ask for the full group total, including captain and fuel, before you commit.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Still, read the exact terms attached to your date and option, since the practical details of your departure matter.

Who should book this private Malta boat tour?

I would choose this trip if you want the following:

• A private boat instead of a large shared cruise
• Flexible swimming and photo time
• A short outing focused on Comino
• Snorkeling equipment without renting it separately
• A family-friendly captain who can help children
• Bluetooth music and a relaxed group atmosphere
• A route that can respond to wind and sea conditions

I would look elsewhere if you want a full-day sailing trip, a substantial walk on Comino, guaranteed access to every lagoon, or a low individual price for only one or two people. You also need to be comfortable climbing on and off a small boat and swimming in open water.

The perfect score is not the reason to book, but it fits the pattern of this experience. The strongest part is the human service: captains such as Momo, Adin, Elton, and Lyndon repeatedly made the trip feel personal through humor, local explanations, photos, and calm help in the water.

Should you book it?

Book the three-hour option if your main goal is to swim at both lagoons, see caves, and enjoy some Gozo scenery without rushing. Choose the earliest start you can manage, particularly in summer, and fill as many of the six places as possible to make the group price work.

Before paying, confirm the exact pickup point, return point, total cost with captain and fuel, and the planned duration. If the weather is good and you value privacy, this is one of the more enjoyable ways to experience Comino’s famous water. If the sea turns rough, keep your expectations flexible and let the captain put safety first.

FAQ

How much does the private boat tour cost?

The advertised price is $164 per group of up to six people. Captain and fuel are listed separately as group costs, so confirm the complete final price before booking.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts two to three hours, depending on the option you select. The three-hour option is better if you want more swimming and sightseeing time.

Where can I board the boat?

You can choose pickup at Cirkewwa in Malta or Mgarr Harbour in Gozo.

Which places does the tour visit?

The route can include Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Comino, Comino’s caves, and scenic areas around Gozo. The exact route can change with the weather and your preferences.

Is the boat private?

Yes. Only your group and the captain are onboard. The group size can be up to six people.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and floaties are provided.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You need to bring your own food and drinks. An ice box is available on the boat for refreshments.

What else should I bring?

Bring swimwear, towels, sunscreen, and a camera. These items are not supplied.

Can I play my own music?

Yes. The boat has Bluetooth audio equipment, allowing you to connect your device and play your own music.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The experience is listed as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments. It also does not allow unaccompanied minors.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.