Malta: Private Boat Charter to Blue-Lagoon, Gozo & Comino

The best part of this private boat charter is control. Instead of being packed onto a large vessel with a fixed schedule, you can ask your skipper to linger at a swimming spot, seek out a quieter cove, or spend more time near the caves. The route covers Comino, Cominotto, the Blue Lagoon, and Gozo’s southern coast in four hours.

I like two things in particular: the boat carries snorkeling gear and an ice cooler, and the skipper can shape the outing around your group. Families can keep the pace easy, while friends can ask for cliff-jumping spots. The main drawback is simple: the €99 fuel fee is extra, and four hours is a tight window for such a long list of stops.

• Private access to Comino: Swim from the boat or go ashore at the Blue Lagoon, with more freedom than a large group cruise.
• A long list of sea caves: Santa Maria Caves, Lover’s Cave, Popeye Caves, and smaller arches give the trip plenty of variety.
• Flexible swimming time: The skipper can adjust stops for snorkeling, quiet beaches, or cliff jumping.
• Gozo from the water: You pass Mgarr Harbour, Hondoq Bay, Ras il-Qala, and several coastal coves without committing to a full island tour.
• Useful onboard extras: Masks, snorkels, shade, comfortable seating, and an ice cooler are provided.
• Best for small groups: The listed price covers up to six people, making it good value when shared by a family or group of friends.

A private start near Cirkewwa

The boat leaves from one of two possible meeting points, including Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal and the Blue Lagoon Comino and Gozo Boat Trips base. Check your booking details carefully, since the exact starting point depends on the option selected.

Once aboard, you head by speedboat toward Lantern Point and Comino. The first stretch takes about 15 minutes, giving you time to settle in, store food and drinks in the cooler, and decide what matters most to your group.

This is not a formal sightseeing cruise where every minute is locked in. You have a personal skipper, and the operator presents the trip as adjustable before and during the outing. If you want more swimming and less sightseeing, say so early. If caves and photographs matter most, make that clear as well.

The boat has shade and seating, though you should still bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a towel. You may bring your own food and drinks, which is useful because the four-hour schedule is built around the coast rather than a meal stop.

Comino’s clear water and busy Blue Lagoon

Comino is the heart of the trip. Its water is famously clear, and the route takes you past several coves and rock formations before reaching the Blue Lagoon.

The Blue Lagoon is the headline stop, but it is also the place most likely to feel busy, especially in summer. A private boat helps because you can swim from the boat instead of joining the mass of people on the narrow beach. You may also go ashore, but the charter cannot make the Blue Lagoon itself private.

The planned stop here lasts around 40 minutes, one of the longer pauses on the route. That gives you enough time for swimming and snorkeling, though you will want to keep an eye on the clock if you also hope to spend time at Gozo’s bays.

Cominotto Beach offers a quieter contrast. It can be reached only by private boat charter, according to the tour description, and its reef is suited to snorkeling and viewing marine life. The beach is a good choice if your group wants a short shore visit rather than another swim from the boat.

The Crystal Lagoon is another strong swimming stop. Its clear water and cliff-jumping potential make it popular with active groups. Use common sense here: jumping is optional, and conditions can change with the sea and wind. Families with young children may prefer Santa Marija Bay, where the water is described as shallow and the beach is sandy.

Caves, arches, and the best photo stops

Much of the charm comes from seeing Comino at water level. The boat can pass beneath or alongside natural openings that are hard to appreciate from land.

Lover’s Cave leads toward a small hidden beach with white sand. The setting is attractive, but access and swimming conditions depend on the sea. Treat it as a scenic stop first, not a guaranteed shore excursion.

Popeye Caves have a natural arch that makes a fine photograph. Alex’s Cave is another brief photo stop, while the formations around L-Iskoll ta’ Taħt il-Mazz provide opportunities for snorkeling and views of the rocky coast.

The itinerary includes L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf, It-Tieqa, and Taħt il-Ħnejja, with about 25 minutes assigned to visiting, swimming, snorkeling, and viewing marine life. This is one of the more flexible parts of the outing. Your skipper can point out openings and gorges, then choose a safe place for the boat to pause.

You also pass Il-Bejta tal-Fenek, Cominotto Reef, L-Imriek, and Għemieri Window. Some of these are short photo stops or pass-by points, so do not expect to get ashore at every named location. The appeal is the changing view from the water: pale rock, small inlets, arches, and bright water below the boat.

Santa Marija Bay and Elephant Rock

Santa Marija Bay gives the trip a calmer coastal stop. The listed swimming time is about 10 minutes, but the actual length can vary with the group’s wishes, weather, and the overall schedule.

The bay is described as secluded, with white sand and shallow water. That makes it one of the more practical places for a family with children, although parents should still supervise closely from the boat or beach.

The Santa Maria Caves are among Malta’s largest sea caves. The boat spends around 10 minutes here, enough for photographs and a look inside if conditions allow. A boat is the right way to see these formations, since the entrances and walls are best viewed from the sea.

Elephant Rock is a natural formation shaped like its name suggests. It is a pass-by photo stop rather than a long visit. You also see the Il-Batterija ta’ Santa Marija area, adding a touch of coastal history to a trip otherwise centered on swimming and rock formations.

The route includes Pigeon Island and several other points around Comino, though not every stop receives the same amount of time. The skipper’s judgment matters. A good guide will help you avoid wasting the short tour on too many rushed pauses.

Gozo’s southern coast by speedboat

After Comino, the boat crosses toward Gozo. You pass Mgarr Harbour, the island’s main port, where ferries and smaller craft arrive beneath the surrounding hills.

The harbor is mainly a scenic and orientation stop. You are not booking a land tour of Gozo, so there is no time for the island’s towns, churches, or inland sights. This charter shows you the coast and allows short visits to selected bays.

The route then reaches Iz-Zewwieqa Bay and Hondoq Bay. Hondoq is a useful stop for swimming and snorkeling, and the nearby Bemberrine Gorge adds rocky coastal scenery. Ras il-Qala receives about 15 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, and viewing marine life, making it one of the more substantial Gozo stops.

The southern Gozo section is valuable because many visitors see only the ferry port or book a standard Comino cruise. From a private boat, you can appreciate how the coast changes from crowded lagoon to quieter bays and exposed rock.

You might find the crossing and repeated speedboat sections a little brisk if the sea is choppy. One earlier outing continued despite rougher conditions, with the group still feeling safe, but your comfort depends on the weather and your tolerance for motion. The operator says trips are planned around weather conditions, which is important for this type of activity.

What the four-hour schedule really means

The itinerary lists more than 30 points, but many are brief passes or photo views. This is not a promise that you will stop and swim at every cave, beach, and island.

The route includes several fast transfers of two to 18 minutes. That lets you cover a lot of coastline, but it also means the day has a sightseeing rhythm: cruise, pause, swim, move on. The Blue Lagoon receives about 40 minutes, Ras il-Qala about 15 minutes, and several cave areas between five and 25 minutes.

I would treat the named locations as a menu rather than a checklist. Tell the skipper your priorities before departure. A family might choose Blue Lagoon, Santa Marija Bay, and one cave area. A group of friends might favor Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto Reef, and cliff jumping. A photography-focused group may prefer the arches and caves.

The four-hour version is a better choice than a two-hour trip if you want both Comino and Gozo. One group originally considered two hours, then found the longer option worthwhile because it allowed more swimming and sightseeing. Still, if you dislike quick transitions, ask about a longer charter before booking.

The skipper can make or break the day

The strongest part of this experience is the personal skipper. Several named skippers receive particularly warm praise for adjusting the route and helping with practical details.

Justin is repeatedly singled out for friendly service and for learning what each group wanted. He helped one family with children aged five, 10, and 12, paused away from the busiest areas, and turned a small amount of floating litter into an engaging lesson for the children. He also helped arrange a restaurant connection in Gozo for a birthday celebration.

Upie is praised for suggesting good swimming places and finding cliff-jumping spots. Joe is described as friendly and well informed about the different sites, while Jimmy is praised for going out of his way to make the day work well. Casper is noted for knowing good locations, including places where fish could be fed by hand.

These details matter because a private charter is not automatically a great experience. The skipper needs to read the group, explain what you are seeing, and use the time wisely. The available feedback points to strong performance in those areas, with a 4.9 rating from 80 reviews and 98 percent of ratings at the top score.

The listed guide languages are English, Maltese, Javanese, Japanese, and Thai. Confirm your preferred language when booking if that is important to your group.

Boat comfort, gear, and the extra fuel charge

The private speedboat includes a skipper, marina permits, masks, snorkels, and an ice cooler with ice flakes. You should bring your own towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, food, and drinks.

Shade is available onboard, a worthwhile feature in Malta’s strong summer sun. The boat is described as spacious and new in one account, with enough room for a group of five and a few bags. The listed capacity and price are for up to six people.

The price is $423 per group, with a separate €99 fuel fee. That makes the advertised cost look lower than the final outlay, so calculate the total before you book. Shared among six people, the base price is about $71 per person, before fuel. Shared among four people, it is about $106 per person before fuel.

That is often fair value for a private boat, especially if you would otherwise pay for several separate activities. You are paying for control, a skipper, snorkeling equipment, shade, and the ability to avoid a crowded group vessel. For only one or two people, the cost is harder to justify unless privacy matters a great deal.

Larger groups may be possible with a different boat, but you need to ask in advance. The supplied price applies to a group of up to six, so do not assume that eight people can simply board under the same terms.

Who should book this charter?

I would recommend it most strongly to families, couples who want privacy, and groups of friends who value flexibility. The trip can combine swimming, snorkeling, caves, photographs, and quiet time without forcing everyone into the same pace.

It is also a good match for children who get bored on a standard sightseeing cruise. The boat keeps changing locations, and the skipper can adapt the stops. Families should make Santa Marija Bay and quieter coves a priority rather than building the whole day around cliff jumping.

Groups of friends may get the most value. Six people can share the base cost, bring their own refreshments, choose swimming spots, and ask for more active stops. The boat also gives you a private place to rest between swims.

This is less suitable if you need step-free access. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. It may also disappoint you if you expect long beach visits, a full tour of Gozo by land, or a guarantee of an empty Blue Lagoon.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times depend on availability, so check the schedule before arranging transport to the meeting point.

Should you book the Blue Lagoon and Gozo charter?

Book it if you want to see both Comino and Gozo from the water, swim in several clear-water spots, and have a skipper adjust the day to your group. The private format is the real advantage, not simply the number of places listed.

Before paying, confirm the meeting point, the €99 fuel fee, the boat capacity, and your top three priorities. If you want an easy family outing, ask for shallow water and a beach stop. If you want caves and cliff jumping, say so clearly.

I would skip it only if your budget is tight for a small group, you dislike speedboat travel, or you want substantial time ashore. For up to six people who want a flexible coastal day, this is one of the stronger ways to experience Comino’s water and Gozo’s southern bays without being tied to a large excursion boat.

FAQ

How long is the private boat charter?

The advertised trip lasts four hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How many people can join the boat trip?

The listed price covers a private group of up to six people. Larger groups may be accommodated with a larger boat if arranged in advance.

Is fuel included in the price?

No. A €99 fuel fee is charged separately from the advertised group price.

What equipment is provided?

The charter includes a private speedboat, personal skipper, marina permits, masks, snorkels, and an ice cooler with ice flakes. Shade is also available onboard.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Yes. You may bring your own food and drinks onto the boat. You should also bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a towel.

Does the boat stop at the Blue Lagoon?

Yes. The route includes the Blue Lagoon, where you can swim from the boat, snorkel, or go ashore to the beach. The stop is listed at about 40 minutes.

Is the activity suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.