Malta: Comino, Blue lagoon Private Speed Boat Tour

The best part of this private speed boat tour is simple: you see Comino from the water, not from a crowded patch of shore. In two or three hours, your skipper can take you past Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Cave, Elephant Rock, and several smaller coves, with time to stop for swimming and snorkeling.

I like the freedom to choose how long you stay in the water, and I like having a boat, shaded area, freshwater shower, and cooler for your own supplies. Skippers including Atef, Agus, James, and Keith have been praised for explaining local stories while still giving groups quiet time to enjoy the sea.

The main catch is the extra €79 fuel charge, which is paid to the skipper and is not included in the advertised price. Also, two hours can feel rushed if you want long swims, and rough water may trouble anyone prone to seasickness.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to nine people: The $187 price is per group, not per person, so the value improves sharply with a larger party.
• Three main swimming areas: Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, and Santa Maria Bay are built into the route, weather and sea conditions permitting.
• Caves viewed from the water: Santa Marija Cave, Crystal Lagoon Tunnel, Popeye’s Cave, Lovers Cave, and other rock formations add variety beyond the lagoons.
• Flexible timing: Your skipper can adjust swimming stops, and some groups have shortened a stop to see more of Comino.
• Bring your own picnic: Food and drinks are not supplied, but you can use the ice box and bring supplies aboard.
• Blue Lagoon shore access needs a free ticket: From May 2025, you need to reserve a free ticket at blcomino.com if you plan to get off the boat at Blue Lagoon.

Why a private boat makes Comino easier

Comino’s Blue Lagoon is Malta’s famous postcard scene, but the shore can become uncomfortable when many people arrive at once. A private boat gives you another way to enjoy the water. You can admire the lagoon from the deck, swim from the boat, and move on when the shoreline feels too crowded.

That flexibility matters more than it may first appear. On a shared cruise, you generally follow a fixed schedule and share each stop with the rest of the boat. Here, you can ask to spend longer at a calm swimming spot, shorten a stop, or focus on caves and views if the water is too cool for swimming.

The boat is described as spacious and well maintained, with shade, music through Bluetooth, a freshwater shower, snorkels, and float noodles mentioned in the trip details and firsthand accounts. You should still bring your own towel, swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, and beachwear.

The tour is suitable for families, couples, and groups of friends. One family enjoyed it with a toddler, while other groups used it for a birthday, a special occasion, and even a marriage proposal. Swimming is optional, so you can treat the trip as a scenic coastal ride if you prefer to stay dry.

Cirkewwa or Mgarr: getting to the boat

The usual meeting point is the jetty in Cirkewwa, Malta, behind the only kiosk in the area, identifiable by its umbrellas and tables. Departure can also be arranged from Mgarr in Gozo, so confirm your chosen starting point when booking.

Cirkewwa is the practical choice if you are already on Malta and heading toward the Gozo ferry area. Mgarr makes more sense if you are staying on Gozo or visiting the island before the trip. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, although they can be arranged separately.

Allow extra time to find the jetty. One group arrived late after a taxi went to the wrong pickup point, and the skipper waited. That kind of flexibility is helpful, but I would not plan to rely on it. Clear communication before departure is important, especially if you are carrying towels, food, children’s items, or snorkeling gear.

The fuel fee deserves attention before you commit. The tour price is $187 per group of up to nine, but fuel costs €79 extra and are paid directly to the skipper. Ask in advance whether you can pay that fee by card, since at least one group would have liked clearer information about this option.

Crystal Lagoon: the best early swim

The boat ride to Crystal Lagoon takes about ten minutes from the starting point. This is usually the first substantial stop, with roughly forty minutes set aside for photographs, swimming, and snorkeling.

Crystal Lagoon is a strong opening because it combines dramatic rock walls with clear water. From the boat, you get a better sense of the narrow entrance and the surrounding cliffs than you do from land. If the sea is calm, this is a good place to use the provided snorkels and look beneath the surface.

Forty minutes sounds generous, but it disappears quickly once you have taken photographs, climbed into the water, and settled into a swim. If your group loves snorkeling, tell the skipper early that you want to protect this time. If you prefer seeing more caves and coastline, you may want to keep the stop shorter.

The sea can look deceptively shallow because the water is so clear. Pay attention to the skipper’s instructions before jumping in, and use the boat’s ladder when getting back aboard. Non-swimmers should think carefully before booking, and anyone prone to seasickness should bring suitable medication and consider how they handle a fast boat in choppier conditions.

Blue Lagoon without fighting for a seat

Blue Lagoon usually gets the longest planned stop, about forty minutes. You can take photographs, swim, snorkel, or simply sit aboard and watch the water shift between pale and dark blue.

The lagoon is beautiful, but it is also the busiest part of the route. The private boat helps because you do not need to find a comfortable place along the shore. You can swim from the boat and return whenever you like, then eat your own packed lunch while anchored nearby.

If you want to step off at Blue Lagoon, you must reserve a free ticket through blcomino.com. Tickets are required from May 2025, but there is no charge. This rule is easy to miss, so arrange it before the day of your tour if shore access matters to you.

Do not expect Blue Lagoon to feel private just because your boat is private. The water and shore can still be busy. The advantage is control: you have a comfortable base, your own group, and a skipper who can move you toward a quieter area when conditions and timing allow.

Ħalfa Rock and the freedom to change plans

After Blue Lagoon, the boat ride takes about five minutes to Ħalfa Rock. This stop is allocated around forty minutes for a break, photographs, swimming, and snorkeling.

The rock is one of those places best appreciated from the water. You can photograph the shape of the coast, take a swim, or use the stop as a calmer pause after the busier Blue Lagoon. The exact quality of the stop depends on wind, waves, and the skipper’s judgment.

That judgment is one of the tour’s useful features. A family visiting on a choppy day was taken to a calmer and safer swimming area instead of being pushed into an uncomfortable stop. In another case, the group shortened some swimming periods so it could see more of Comino.

This is not a rigid sightseeing bus on water. Tell your skipper what matters most to you. You can favor swimming, photographs, caves, or a little of everything, although a two-hour version cannot provide unlimited time for all four.

Gozo views, Santa Maria Bay, and Għemieri Window

The route includes a brief view of Gozo, with about five minutes for photographs and a short visit. This is not a full Gozo sightseeing tour, so keep your expectations in check. You will see part of the island from the sea rather than visit its towns or inland attractions.

Santa Maria Bay follows, with around ten minutes for a break, photographs, swimming, and snorkeling. It is a shorter stop than the lagoons, but it adds another setting and may offer a quieter change of pace.

Għemieri Window is a quick photo stop of about five minutes. Coastal formations like this are easy to miss when you are focused only on Blue Lagoon, so having a skipper point them out gives the ride more shape. You will want your camera ready because the boat may not linger.

The schedule contains several short stops, not just long periods at the main lagoons. That variety suits you if you want to see many features in a limited time. If you dislike moving often, choose the three-hour option and ask for longer pauses at the places you care about most.

Santa Marija Cave, Elephant Rock, and the return ride

Santa Marija Caves receive about ten minutes for photographs and a visit from the boat. The cave systems are among the most memorable parts of the outing because they show Comino’s character beyond its famous swimming water.

The named cave sights include Santa Marija Cave, the Crystal Lagoon Tunnel, Popeye’s Cave, and Lovers Cave. Some are viewed from outside or at the entrance, depending on conditions and the boat’s position. Your skipper can explain the stories and local details, but the quality of the commentary may vary with the individual guide.

Elephant Rock is another short stop, planned for about five minutes of photographs and a break. Its unusual outline makes it a natural final photo point before the ten-minute ride back.

The return is not merely transport. It gives you another look at the cliffs and coves from a different angle, with time to rinse off salt water in the freshwater shower and pack away your gear. Music through Bluetooth can add a party feel, but you can also keep things quiet and listen to the water.

The skipper can make or break the outing

The boat itself matters, but the skipper controls the pace, safety, and feel of the trip. Atef is the name that appears most often in the supplied feedback, with groups praising his local stories, humor, careful handling, and ability to adjust the route. Agus is also repeatedly described as friendly and accommodating, taking photographs and letting groups decide how long to swim.

James has been praised for clear communication and local information, while Keith guided a winter outing around Comino, Gozo, and Malta. Other skippers named include Adam and Michelle. You may not be able to guarantee a particular skipper, so ask when booking if that is important to you.

The strongest pattern is not simply friendliness. It is practical judgment. On windy or choppy days, the skipper may choose a safer, calmer swimming place or make boarding easier. That is especially valuable for families, less confident swimmers, and anyone stepping on and off a moving boat.

You should also tell the skipper about your group at the start. Mention children, non-swimmers, seasickness, preferred music, and whether you want more swimming or more sightseeing. The private format works best when you use that flexibility rather than waiting for the skipper to guess.

Is $187 good value for a private group?

At $187 for up to nine people, the headline price is attractive for a full private boat. A group of eight or nine pays far less per person than a couple would, even before considering the €79 fuel charge. For two people, the total cost per person is much higher, so compare it with shared boat tours before deciding.

The value comes from control as much as transport. You get your own skipper, your own cooler space, shaded seating, music, swimming equipment, and the ability to shape the stops. You also avoid spending the entire outing on a large shared boat with a fixed schedule.

Food and drinks are not included. Bring water, snacks, and perhaps a packed lunch, then use the ice box to keep them cool. Some groups enjoyed eating aboard at Blue Lagoon, and one group arranged to buy beers and ice cream from a supplier who came to the anchored boats, but you should not count on that service being available.

Fuel changes the calculation, so treat the advertised rate as the starting cost rather than the final total. If you are a family or a group of friends, the combined price can still make strong sense. For a couple wanting a short scenic ride, the premium is mainly for privacy and flexibility.

Two hours or three?

The two-hour option works if you want the main sights quickly. You can expect to cover Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, several caves, and a few swimming locations, but your time in the water will be limited. One group found two hours perfect for seeing Comino without giving up half a day, while another wished it had booked longer.

Choose three hours if swimming and snorkeling are central to your plans. The extra hour gives you room to enjoy the lagoons instead of treating each stop as a quick photo pause, and it makes the cave and coastal section less hurried.

The three-hour option is also better for families with children, groups carrying lunch, and anyone who wants to stop for photographs without watching the clock. The trip lasts only two to three hours, so even the longer version leaves most of your day free.

Weather, comfort, and who should skip it

The tour runs on the sea, so conditions shape the experience. Wind can make boarding harder and the ride uncomfortable, especially on the slower sections between stops. One person on an otherwise excellent outing felt seasick, and the advice is sensible: bring a seasickness tablet if you are prone to it.

The boat has shade, but you should still protect yourself from the Maltese sun. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat if useful, swimwear, a towel, and dry clothing or beachwear. The freshwater shower is handy after swimming, but it does not replace a towel.

This tour suits you best if you want a private outing with a mix of scenery and swimming. It is particularly good for groups of four or more, families who need flexibility, couples marking a special occasion, and friends who want to play their own music and bring their own food.

It is less suitable if you dislike speed boats, get seasick easily, do not swim, or want a full historical tour of Gozo. The commentary adds local stories about Malta, Comino, and Gozo, but the focus remains the coast, caves, and sea.

Should you book this Comino boat tour?

I would book it for a group that values privacy, clear water, and the ability to change the pace. The combination of Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Santa Maria Bay, caves, and Elephant Rock gives you much more than a simple ride to one swimming spot.

Book the three-hour option if you can afford the extra time, especially in warm weather when you will want longer swims. The two-hour version is a smart short outing, but only if you accept a brisk schedule.

Before paying, confirm the departure point, the €79 fuel fee, whether card payment is possible, and whether your group needs a free Blue Lagoon shore ticket. With those details settled, this is a strong way to see Comino from the water without surrendering your day to a crowded shared cruise.

FAQ

How much does the private Comino boat tour cost?

The advertised price is $187 per private group of up to nine people. Fuel is separate and costs €79, paid to the skipper.

How long is the boat tour?

You can choose a two-hour or three-hour private speed boat tour. Starting times depend on availability.

Where does the tour depart?

Departure can be arranged from the jetty at Cirkewwa in Malta or from Mgarr in Gozo. At Cirkewwa, meet behind the only kiosk, near its umbrellas and tables.

Does the tour include swimming and snorkeling?

Yes. The route provides swimming and snorkeling opportunities at Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Ħalfa Rock, and Santa Maria Bay. Swimming is optional.

Is food or drink included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can bring your own supplies and use the onboard ice box.

Do I need a ticket to visit Blue Lagoon?

You need a free ticket from blcomino.com if you want to get off the boat at Blue Lagoon, Comino. Tickets are required from May 2025, but they cost nothing.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, beachwear, and a camera. If you are prone to seasickness, bring suitable medication. Pets are not allowed.