Malta: Blue Lagoon, Caves & around Comino Private Speedboat

Comino’s famous water is best enjoyed from a small private boat, and this trip gives you three hours to move between Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Santa Marija Bay instead of staying in one crowded patch. I like the freedom to swim, snorkel, listen to your own music, and ask the skipper to shape the route. I also like the personal touch from local skipper Darren, who takes photos and sends them later the same day.

The main catch is the extra €99 cash payment for fuel and the skipper, which is not included in the advertised price. The boat is also a poor choice if you suffer from motion sickness, and weather can change the route or cancel the outing.

Key points to know before you book

• Three lagoons in three hours: Blue Lagoon gets the longest stop, followed by Crystal Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay.
• A genuinely private boat: You get the boat for your own group rather than sharing space with a large excursion crowd.
• Local skipper Darren: He is praised for his sailing skill, friendly manner, local knowledge, and willingness to add extra sights.
• Caves and rock formations: The route includes Santa Maria Caves, Elephant Rock, and a pass by Cominotto Reef.
• Bring cash: Fuel and the experienced local skipper cost an additional €99, paid on board.
• Best for active beach time: Swimming, snorkeling, and cliff jumping are part of the appeal, but towels, sunscreen, and swimwear are your responsibility.

A private way to see Comino’s famous water

Comino is small, rocky, and almost entirely about the sea. Its shore is cut with little bays, caves, and pale stone ledges. From a speedboat, you get the best view of the island: bright water below, low cliffs ahead, and quick access to coves that are awkward to reach from land.

This trip is not a formal sightseeing cruise with a long speech at every stop. It is a short private outing built around swimming and scenery. You can tell the skipper what you want to do, then spend more time in the water or more time cruising, as conditions allow.

That flexibility matters at Comino. The Blue Lagoon is famous for its clear, bright water, but its popularity means the shore and surrounding boats can feel busy. A private speedboat does not make the lagoon empty, but it lets you approach from the water, take photographs, and move on when the main area no longer feels relaxing.

The boat includes a cooler with ice, beach noodles, snorkeling masks, life jackets, and a Bluetooth sound system. You can bring drinks, keep them cold, and play your own music. Those small details make a difference on a warm three-hour trip, especially if your group wants a relaxed boat day rather than a tightly managed tour.

Starting at Cirkewwa and meeting the boat

The usual meeting point is near the Cirkewwa café kiosk at the northern tip of Malta. The skipper waits there, and you identify the boat by its reggae-style colors. The trip returns to the same place, so you do not need to arrange a separate ride from another part of the island.

The boat can also begin from Mgarr in Gozo. Confirm the exact starting point when you book, since this affects your day plan and how you reach the marina. Parking is available on site at the Cirkewwa meeting point.

Arrive ready for the water. Wear swimwear under your clothes, pack a towel, sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen. Large bags, luggage, baby strollers, and non-folding carriages are not allowed. A small soft bag for essentials is the sensible choice.

The listed price is $203 per group up to one group, but the added €99 charge deserves close attention. It covers fuel for the full trip and the experienced local skipper, and it must be paid in cash on board. Bring enough cash so the extra cost does not catch you by surprise.

Blue Lagoon: the main swimming stop

After a short sightseeing cruise, the boat reaches Blue Lagoon. You have about 45 minutes here, the longest stop of the outing. That gives you time for swimming, snorkeling, photographs, and simply floating with a noodle.

The water is the star. Blue Lagoon is known for its clear, pale color and good visibility, making it the obvious place to use the included mask. You can look for marine life below the surface, though this is not presented as a specialist wildlife trip. The appeal is the combination of water color, rock scenery, and easy access from the boat.

For photographs, the approach is part of the fun. The view changes as the boat enters the lagoon, with Comino’s rocky shore framing the water. The skipper can help position the boat for views, but remember that conditions and boat traffic may affect the exact stop.

Blue Lagoon is also the place where expectations need managing. Its fame means it is not a secret cove, and the water may be active with other boats. The private format gives you more control than a large shared cruise, but it cannot remove the popularity of Comino.

If you want a quieter swim, tell the skipper. The route can change according to your preferences and the sea. You might spend less time at the headline lagoon and more time at another bay or cave.

Cominotto Reef and the short coastal cruise

The boat passes Cominotto Reef after Blue Lagoon. This is a photo and wildlife-viewing stop rather than a long landing. You get a chance to see the reef from the water and watch the shape of Comino’s coast change as the speedboat moves on.

Short passages such as this help break up the swimming stops. They also give you a chance to dry off, take pictures, and enjoy the boat itself. The sightseeing sections are brief, so do not expect a narrated coastal history tour. The emphasis is on views and movement.

A private boat makes these small moments more useful. You can ask the skipper questions, request a slower pass for photographs, or simply keep the boat moving if the sea is lively.

Crystal Lagoon: a second clear-water stop

Crystal Lagoon follows with about 20 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. It is a shorter stop than Blue Lagoon, but it adds variety to the route. The bay is known for clear water, rocky edges, and a more enclosed feel than the main lagoon.

Twenty minutes goes quickly. If you want to swim, use the mask, and take photographs, keep your plan simple. The stop works best if you get into the water soon rather than spending the whole time deciding what to do.

The skipper can adjust the swimming locations when the weather changes. That is useful around Comino, where wind and sea conditions can affect how comfortable a particular bay feels. It also means the advertised order is not a guarantee. Treat the route as a plan, not a fixed timetable.

Santa Marija Bay and the island’s caves

Santa Marija Bay receives about 10 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. It is a short stop, but it offers a different mood from the two lagoons. Instead of focusing only on the bright open water of Blue Lagoon, you get a quieter-looking section of Comino’s coast and another chance to swim from the boat.

Afterward, the boat passes Santa Maria Caves. These are sightseeing and photo stops, not a promise that you will walk inside every cave. The view from the boat lets you see openings in the rock and the way sunlight reaches the water.

Caves are one of the reasons a speedboat works well here. A boat can approach rocky openings without asking you to hike across rough ground. The skipper’s handling matters in narrow or shallow areas, and Darren is especially praised for his control at the helm and his willingness to show extra sights.

The trip also passes Elephant Rock, a distinctive coastal formation that makes a good photograph. Like Cominotto Reef, it is a brief scenic stop rather than a long activity. These formations give the cruise more substance than a simple ride to a swimming spot.

The coastline has also appeared in film settings, including The Count of Monte Cristo and the film identified in the tour details as Tory. If you enjoy recognizing movie scenery, ask the skipper which rock and cave views match those scenes.

What the skipper adds to the day

The skipper can make or break a short boat trip. Darren receives especially strong praise for being friendly, skilled at the helm, and keen to make sure the group is enjoying the outing. He grew up locally, which gives the route a personal connection rather than making it feel like a simple transport service.

One useful extra is photography. Darren has taken photographs during the trip and sent them to the group that evening. This is not listed as a formal guaranteed service, so you should not book solely for the pictures, but it is a welcome bonus if he is your skipper.

You can also discuss your priorities before leaving or during the voyage. Tell the skipper if you care most about swimming, snorkeling, caves, photographs, music, or a relaxed cruise. The route and swimming stops may change for safety, but your preferences help shape the day.

The guiding language is English or Italian. The outing is private, so you will not be competing with a large group for the skipper’s attention. That is one of the strongest reasons to consider this option over a standard shared cruise.

What is included, and what is not

The package includes the private boat, three hours on the water, marina and lagoon fees, an English or Italian-speaking guide, life jackets, snorkeling masks, beach noodles, ice, and a cooler. Parking is also included at the stated meeting point.

The Bluetooth sound system lets you play your own music. Keep the volume sensible, since the main pleasure of the route is the sea, the caves, and conversation with the skipper.

You need to bring your own towel, sunblock, and swimsuit. Sunscreen is easy to forget when the boat begins with a cruise, but you will be exposed to the sun for much of the outing. Sunglasses and a hat are equally useful.

The €99 fuel and skipper fee is the most important financial detail. Add it to the advertised group price before comparing this trip with other Comino cruises. For a full private group that wants control over the route, chilled drinks, equipment, and direct attention from the skipper, the overall cost may be fair. For one or two people, the same fee makes the value less obvious.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would choose this outing for a family group, a group of friends, or a couple who want a private three-hour break at sea. It is especially suitable if you prefer deciding how to use your time instead of following a fixed large-boat schedule.

It also fits people who want several types of scenery in one short trip. You get lagoons, a reef, a bay, caves, a rock formation, and open-water cruising without committing to a full-day charter.

Active swimmers and snorkelers will get the most from it. The trip is built around getting into the water, and cliff jumping may be possible where conditions and the skipper allow. Do not assume every jump will be available, since safety and weather control the route.

This is less suitable if you want a quiet, land-based sightseeing tour, a long history lesson, or guaranteed access to a specific cave. It is also not suitable for people with motion sickness. A speedboat can be lively, and three hours on open water is a long time if you are prone to feeling unwell.

The outing is not designed for large luggage or baby equipment. Strollers and carriages are prohibited, so families with very young children should consider the practical limits before booking.

Weather, timing, and flexibility

The skipper can change the route and swimming stops when weather conditions require it. The entire activity can also be cancelled on the day if the weather is unsafe. That uncertainty is normal for a boat trip, but it matters if your Malta schedule is tightly packed.

I would avoid placing this outing on the final few hours of your holiday. Give yourself room to move it if the sea turns rough. The booking terms allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later, which gives you some planning flexibility.

The published program totals three hours, including short sightseeing cruises between stops. That is enough for a taste of Comino, but not enough to linger everywhere. Blue Lagoon receives the most time, while Santa Marija Bay and the rock formations are quick visits.

Should you book the Blue Lagoon private speedboat?

Book it if you want a private, flexible Comino outing centered on swimming, snorkeling, caves, and clear water. The combination of several stops, onboard equipment, a cooler, and a local skipper gives the trip more personality than a basic ride to Blue Lagoon and back.

Before paying, make sure you understand the full cost, including the extra €99 in cash. Confirm whether you will start at Cirkewwa or Mgarr, and pack light with swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and cash.

I would skip it if you dislike speedboats, suffer from motion sickness, need a guaranteed fixed route, or want a quiet cultural tour. For everyone else, especially a small group that values its own schedule, this is a practical way to see Comino’s best-known water and several of its most striking coastal features in a single morning or afternoon.

FAQ

How long is the private boat trip?

The trip lasts three hours, including multiple swimming, snorkeling, and sightseeing stops.

Where does the activity start?

The usual meeting point is near the Cirkewwa café kiosk in Malta. The trip may also start from Mgarr in Gozo, so confirm the departure point when booking.

What swimming locations are included?

The planned route includes Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Santa Marija Bay. The skipper may change the stops due to weather conditions.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The boat is reserved for a private group rather than a shared group excursion.

What extra payment is required?

Fuel for the full trip and the experienced local skipper cost an additional €99, paid in cash on board.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, a towel, sunscreen, beachwear, and cash. Towels, sunblock, and swimsuits are not included. Large bags, luggage, baby strollers, and non-folding strollers are not allowed.