comino and blue lagoon private boat

Comino’s famous Blue Lagoon looks best from the water, before you join the crowds on shore. This private boat trip lets you circle the island, visit caves and quiet beaches, and stop for swimming in places chosen with your skipper. The boat stays with your group throughout the outing, so you are not tied to a fixed ferry schedule.

I like the private format, since the route can be adjusted for more swimming, a beach stop, or a closer look at Comino’s caves. I also like the useful extras: snorkeling masks, equipment, an ice cooler, and a life jacket are included. The main caution is the price wording. The advertised rate is $20 per person, but fuel and the captain are listed as payable after the tour, so confirm the final cost before booking.

Key points to know before you book

• Private boat and skipper: Your group has the boat to itself, with an English or Maltese-speaking skipper aboard for the full trip.
• Flexible Comino route: Stops can be changed to suit swimming, snorkeling, caves, quiet beaches, or extra time in the Blue Lagoon.
• Short advertised duration: The activity is listed as one to two hours, although the description also calls it a half-day charter. Confirm your exact time.
• Cirkewwa departure: Start and finish points are around Ċirkewwa Marine Park and Cirkewwa Cafe.
• Useful equipment included: Masks, snorkeling gear, a cooler, life jacket, taxes, and port fees are covered.
• Bring your own supplies: Food and drinks are not included. Bring swimwear, a towel, beachwear, a camera, and cash.

Seeing Comino from a private boat

This outing is designed for people who want more control than a standard boat cruise. Instead of following a fixed sightseeing loop with a large group, you can discuss the route with the skipper and shape the trip around your interests.

That matters in Comino. The Blue Lagoon is Malta’s best-known swimming spot, but it can become crowded, especially in summer. A private boat gives you a better chance to spend time on the water, look for quieter bays, and choose how long to stay at each stop.

The boat remains with you during the tour. You are not simply dropped at the Blue Lagoon and left to find your own way back. That makes the experience practical for a small group that wants to swim, snorkel, cruise, and return to the same boat without managing several different transport arrangements.

The skipper also provides information about Comino’s history and culture. The exact skipper’s name is not provided, but the service is offered in English and Maltese. You should think of the commentary as a useful part of the ride rather than a formal walking lecture. The real focus is being out on the water.

Starting at Cirkewwa Marine Park or Cirkewwa Cafe

The listed meeting options are at Ċirkewwa Marine Park and Cirkewwa Cafe, with several booking variations using these same locations. Your exact starting point depends on the option you select, so check your confirmation carefully instead of assuming every boat leaves from the same pier.

Cirkewwa is a practical starting area for a Comino boat outing. The trip also ends back at the meeting point, which keeps the plan simple. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you need to arrange your own way to Cirkewwa.

A quick check of the exact meeting point is especially useful if your group is carrying towels, cameras, drinks, or beach gear. The advertised express security check may also help keep the departure process moving, though you should still allow enough time to find the right meeting spot.

Cruising around Comino’s bays and caves

The first part of the ride is about seeing Comino from the sea. Rather than treating the island as one single stop, the skipper can take you around its bays, caves, and rocky shoreline.

The caves are one of the most appealing parts of the trip for visitors who enjoy scenery as much as swimming. From a private boat, you can spend more time looking at the rock formations and taking photographs without having to keep pace with a large group. The supplied details do not name individual caves, so the exact route will depend on sea conditions, timing, and your conversation with the skipper.

The same flexibility applies to the beaches. The description promises quiet beaches and less crowded places, but it does not guarantee that every stop will be empty. Comino is a popular island, particularly in summer. Still, having a skipper who can adjust the route gives you a better chance of finding a calmer stretch of water than a fixed public boat service.

Bring a camera, but protect it from spray and keep an eye on your belongings when you are in the water. The boat includes a cooler and a life jacket, but waterproof storage is not listed.

Making the most of the Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the central attraction, with clear water suited to swimming and snorkeling. The color and setting are the reason many people make the trip to Comino, but the famous name also means high demand.

A private boat changes how you use the lagoon. You can stop for a swim, take photographs from the water, and then move on when the area feels too busy. You can also ask to spend more time there if that is the main reason for booking.

Snorkeling masks and equipment are included, which is a real saving if you do not want to pack your own gear. A life jacket is included as well. You should still bring swimwear and a towel, and you need to be comfortable getting in and out of the boat under the skipper’s direction.

Food and drinks are not included. During summer, kiosks at the Blue Lagoon sell refreshments, and the boat operator can arrange a stop at a marina with restaurants. The supplied information does not specify the marina, the cost, or how much extra time a restaurant stop would take, so ask before changing the plan.

The cooler is provided for your beverages, but you need to bring those beverages yourself. That small detail is easy to miss and can affect the value of the trip, especially if your group expects a full outing on the water.

A flexible route for swimming, snorkeling, and beach time

The best reason to choose this boat is control over the pace. You can ask for more time in the water, request a particular place, or focus on cruising if swimming is not your priority.

For a group of friends, that may mean a mix of snorkeling and cliffside views. For a family, it may mean less time moving between crowded public beaches and more time in one manageable spot. For a couple, it may mean a quieter ride around the island with a swim when the water looks inviting.

The activity also mentions optional subwing water sports. This is not included in the advertised package, so ask about the extra cost and availability before you plan around it. Underwater photographs with an action camera are also optional and not included.

One important point is the duration. The activity is described as lasting one to two hours, while the longer description calls it a half-day boat charter. Those are very different experiences. A one-hour trip is a quick look at Comino with limited time for several stops. A half-day trip allows a much slower route, a proper swim, and time at more than one bay. Confirm the exact duration and start time before you pay.

What the $20 price really means

At $20 per person, the advertised price looks attractive for a private boat, especially if you are splitting the cost among a small group. A private boat normally has more value for a group than for one or two people because you are paying for exclusive use rather than a seat on a shared cruise.

The included equipment adds practical value. You do not need to rent a mask or bring a life jacket, and taxes and port fees are included. The cooler is also useful if you plan to bring your own drinks.

But you should not treat $20 as the final confirmed cost until you ask about the extra charges. The information says fuel and the captain will be paid after the tour, even though a private boat with skipper is also described as included. That wording is unclear. Ask these questions before booking:

• Is the $20 price per person the complete fare?
• What fuel charge should you expect?
• Is the captain fee additional, or already included?
• Is the advertised one to two hours the actual time on the water?
• Does a marina or restaurant stop cost extra?

The booking terms allow cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those policies make the activity easier to fit into a changing Malta schedule, but they do not remove the need to clarify the final price.

Who will enjoy this Comino boat trip most

I would recommend this for a small private group that values flexibility more than a fixed sightseeing program. It suits swimmers, snorkelers, photographers, and people who want to see Comino without spending the whole outing on a crowded beach.

It is also a good choice if your group has different priorities. One person can swim while another prefers to stay on the boat and take photographs. You can discuss the balance with the skipper instead of following a schedule designed for dozens of people.

The trip may be less suitable if you want a long, fully guided history tour, hotel transport, or a package with meals and drinks included. It is also not the right choice if you want every cost to be settled in advance without asking follow-up questions.

The private format comes with another practical consideration: your group shares the same boat and route. If one person wants to spend extra time at the Blue Lagoon while another wants to cruise around the caves, you will need to agree on a plan.

What to bring for a comfortable outing

Pack lightly, since the main purpose is time on the water. You should bring:

• Swimwear and beachwear
• A towel
• A camera
• Cash
• Your own drinks
• Any food you prefer to have with you

The boat provides a cooler, but you supply the contents. Summer kiosks are available at the Blue Lagoon, and a marina restaurant stop may be arranged, but neither food nor drinks is part of the package.

Snorkeling equipment, masks, and a life jacket are included. Even so, bring your own equipment if you have a preferred fit or style. The operator does not list hotel pickup, so plan your transport to and from Cirkewwa.

Final verdict: book it after confirming the details

This is an appealing way to see Comino if you want a private boat, a flexible route, and time for swimming or snorkeling. The strongest features are the ability to customize the trip, the skipper who stays with your group, and the included masks, equipment, cooler, and life jacket. A published rating of 4.4 out of 5 from seven ratings, including one especially enthusiastic five-star response, supports the idea that the sea outing can be a memorable part of a Malta visit.

I would book it for a small group that can make good use of a private boat. Before booking, I would confirm the meeting point, exact duration, fuel charge, captain fee, and whether the price changes with the number of people. If the final cost remains close to the advertised $20 per person, it offers strong value. If the added charges are large, compare it with a standard shared boat trip.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour start?

The listed starting options are Ċirkewwa Marine Park and Cirkewwa Cafe. The exact meeting point may vary depending on the option you book.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point, with listed drop-off options at Cirkewwa Cafe and Ċirkewwa Marine Park.

How long does the boat trip last?

The activity is listed as lasting one to two hours. The description also refers to a half-day charter, so you should confirm the exact duration before booking.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The boat is hired for your private group and remains with you during the tour.

Is a skipper included?

A skipper is provided and stays with the group throughout the tour. The service is available in English and Maltese.

What equipment is included?

Snorkeling masks, snorkeling equipment, an ice cooler, and a life jacket are included. Subwing water sports and underwater action-camera photos are optional extras.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You need to bring your own drinks and food, or buy refreshments from summer kiosks at the Blue Lagoon. A marina stop with restaurants may also be arranged.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to the meeting point.

Can the route be customized?

Yes. You can discuss specific places, extra beach time, swimming, snorkeling, caves, and quiet bays with the skipper. The precise route depends on the arrangement you make and the conditions on the day.