Comino: Private boat tour with Snorkeling activities & caves

The best part of this Comino outing is the chance to enter natural caves by boat and swim inside them, rather than simply passing by with a camera. A captain and deckhand guide you around the island’s coves, reefs, beaches, and wreck site during a private four-hour cruise aboard a traditional 12-meter luzzu.

I like the generous use of the boat, which can hold your private group of up to 20, and I like the practical extras: a toilet, freshwater shower, shaded rear seating, fridge, coolers, snorkeling masks, and a stand-up paddleboard. The main consideration is time. Four hours gives you a fine taste of Comino, but the schedule is active, and the most popular bays can be crowded.

Key points to know

• Santa Marija Caves include a swim to an inner pond, with a short walk inside the cave.
• The 12-meter luzzu is private to your group, with space for up to 20 people.
• Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Cominotto Reef form the main swimming and snorkeling stops.
• A toilet, freshwater shower, shade, fridge, and coolers make the boat more comfortable than a basic open launch.
• A military wreck sits around 25 meters deep, and you may see it from the boat when the water is clear.
• Pickup is available at Cirkewwa in Malta or beneath Gleneagles Bar in Mgarr, Gozo.

A private luzzu is the right way to see Comino

Comino is small, but its shoreline packs in a surprising number of bays, caves, rock formations, and swimming spots. A private boat lets you move between them without waiting for a larger group or following a fixed public ferry route.

The boat is a luzzu, the colorful Maltese fishing boat that has become part of the islands’ visual identity. This one is 12 meters long and reserved for your party for the four-hour trip. Up to 20 people can share the boat, so the value improves sharply if you fill much of that capacity.

I especially like the mix of sightseeing and water time. You are not stuck on board for four hours, and you are not spending the whole outing at one crowded beach. The crew takes you to several bays, points out coastal features, and helps you enter some of the caves.

The setup also suits a group with mixed interests. Some people can swim and snorkel, others can use the paddleboard, and anyone who wants a break can stay in the shaded rear section with a snack. The bar sells alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, snacks, and ice cream, but these are not included in the price.

Blue Lagoon starts the route with scenery and crowds

The usual route begins with a short sightseeing cruise toward the Blue Lagoon. This is Comino’s famous swimming area, known for clear water, pale sand, and striking views from the boat.

You get about an hour here for swimming, snorkeling, scenery, and the nearby beach. A natural cave can be reached through the water, and the sandy shore gives you a place to sit if you prefer not to remain on the boat.

The Blue Lagoon is also the busiest part of the route. Kiosks sell fast food, ice cream, and drinks, including alcoholic drinks served in pineapples. Parasailing and other water sports may be available, and Saint Mary’s Tower can be seen from the area.

I would use this stop for a quick swim and orientation rather than expecting solitude. The included Blue Lagoon Pass is useful, but it does not turn the area into a quiet beach. If you want a calmer swim, the later stops are likely to feel more relaxed.

Cominotto Beach offers a quieter pause

After the Blue Lagoon, the boat heads toward Cominotto Beach. This is a smaller stop with clear water, marine life, and attractive views back toward Comino.

The beach is a good change of pace after the activity around the Blue Lagoon. Two sandy beaches in the area also make it appealing for families with young children, although you should still keep a close eye on children around the boat, rocks, and open water.

The exact order and length of each stop can vary with sea conditions and the captain’s judgment. That flexibility is one of the better reasons to book a private boat. You can spend more time swimming if the water is calm, or move on if a bay feels too busy.

San Niklaw Bay gives you another half-hour in the water

San Niklaw Bay is scheduled for about 30 minutes of swimming and snorkeling. It is not the longest stop, but it adds another chance to see small marine life and enjoy Comino’s clear water without repeating the Blue Lagoon experience.

Bring your mask into the water as soon as the boat stops. The tour includes snorkeling masks, so you do not need to bring your own unless you prefer a particular fit. The crew can also provide a paddleboard, giving you a second way to explore the bay’s edge.

This stop may feel brief if everyone in your group wants a long swim. Still, on a four-hour trip, the shorter pause helps the route cover more of Comino’s coast.

Santa Marija Caves are the tour’s special feature

The Santa Marija Caves are where this trip differs from a simple Comino boat transfer. The boat brings you near the cave entrance, and you swim toward it before getting onto land with help from the guide.

Inside, you walk about 10 meters to reach a pond within the cave. You can swim in this enclosed pool, and capable swimmers may be able to pass beneath the water and come out on the other side. The guide accompanies you because the route through the cave is not something you should attempt without help.

The setting also has a film connection. Santa Marija Cave was used for scenes in The Count of Monte Cristo, adding a small piece of movie history to the visit without taking away from the natural setting.

You should be comfortable swimming from the boat to the entrance and walking over uneven ground. The cave section is not a standard dry sightseeing stop. It is a hands-on water activity, and conditions inside may not suit every member of your group.

Plan for roughly an hour here. That allows time for the boat approach, the swim, the short walk, the inner pond, and the return. Several other caves are visible around the same part of the coast, so the guide can point out more formations even if you do not enter them all.

Elephant Rock and Saint Mary’s Tower add variety

As the boat rounds Comino, it passes Elephant Rock, a naturally formed shape in the coast. This is a quick sightseeing moment rather than a full stop, so keep your camera ready.

Saint Mary’s Tower appears from several points along the route. You can see it from the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, and the itinerary allows a walk of about 10 minutes to reach it from the Crystal Lagoon area.

The tower gives the outing a useful break from swimming. If someone in your group wants dry ground and a short walk, this is the best chance to stretch your legs. The information provided does not promise an interior visit, so treat it as a viewpoint and exterior landmark rather than a guaranteed tower tour.

Crystal Lagoon is the strongest all-round swimming stop

Crystal Lagoon comes near the end of the route and offers a mix of swimming, snorkeling, walking, and coastal views. It sits behind the Blue Lagoon and has several good places to enter the water.

One cave lies beneath Saint Mary’s Tower. You can swim inside it toward a sandy beach at the far end, with the guide showing you the way. Another cave is open at both ends, making it lighter and easier to pass through than a fully enclosed tunnel.

Crystal Lagoon also suits people who enjoy cliff jumping, though the supplied details do not specify jumping heights or exact jump points. Ask the crew before attempting anything. Water depth, entry points, and sea conditions matter.

A visit here lasts about an hour. That is enough time for a proper swim and snorkel, a paddleboard session, or the short walk toward Saint Mary’s Tower. I would save your energy for this stop because it combines many of the trip’s best features in one place.

Cominotto Reef and the wreck reward clear water

The route includes Cominotto Reef for swimming, snorkeling, and viewing marine life. Reefs and rocky edges are often the most interesting places to use your mask, though visibility naturally depends on the day’s conditions.

The P31 wreck is located just outside the lagoon at a depth of about 25 meters. It can be seen from the boat when the sea is clear, and the itinerary includes swimming and snorkeling in the area. Do not assume you will get a close look at the wreck from the surface every day. Its visibility depends on water clarity and sea conditions.

A few additional coastal sites are included, such as L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf, It-Tieqa, and Taħt il-Ħnejja. The guide provides a guided visit and swimming opportunity around these formations. These names may be less familiar than Blue Lagoon, but they are part of what makes a private coastal circuit worthwhile.

What the boat provides for a four-hour outing

The equipment list is practical rather than extravagant. Fuel, the captain, deckhand, snorkeling masks, stand-up paddleboard, fishing equipment, and ice coolers are included.

The boat also has several comforts that matter when you spend half a day on the water. A toilet and freshwater shower are on board, and the shaded rear area gives you somewhere to sit between swims. A fridge is available for keeping items cool, although food and drinks are not included.

You can bring your own snacks and use the coolers, or buy items from the onboard bar. The tour also allows you to play your own music, a detail that can make the private setting feel more personal for families and friend groups.

The boat’s design matters, too. A traditional luzzu is more characterful than a plain transfer vessel, but it is still a working-style boat rather than a large cruise ship. If you want a quiet, spacious deck for 20 people, ask your group to keep expectations realistic. The value is in the private route and the access to the caves, not in luxury.

Is $506 good value for your group?

The price is $506 for the entire group, up to 20 people, for four hours. At full capacity, that works out to about $25 per person before food and drinks. For a smaller group of four, the cost is about $126.50 per person, so the value depends heavily on how many people share the charter.

For a large family, wedding group, or group of friends, this can be a strong deal. You get private use of the boat, fuel, crew, equipment, and several swimming locations without paying separate fares for each person. A smaller party should compare the total cost with a shared boat trip before booking.

The price also buys flexibility. You can move between bays, spend time in the cave sections, use the paddleboard, and choose how much time to devote to swimming or walking. A cheaper shared trip may cover the same waters, but it is less likely to feel tailored to your group.

Food, drinks, and ice cream cost extra. Budget for those if you want to use the onboard bar or buy something at the Blue Lagoon kiosks.

Who will enjoy this Comino tour most?

I would choose this trip for a group that wants active sightseeing rather than a passive cruise. It suits confident swimmers, snorkeling fans, families with older children, and friends who want a private day on the water.

The cave sections require more effort than simply looking from the deck. You swim to entrances, climb onto land with help, walk inside, and enter enclosed water. Young children can enjoy the sandy beaches and calmer bays, but the cave swims may not suit every child.

This is also a good fit if your group has mixed priorities. One person can snorkel, another can paddleboard, and someone else can sit in the shade or take a freshwater rinse. The boat’s toilet, shower, fridge, and shaded seating make the four-hour schedule easier to manage.

I would think twice if you dislike open-water swimming, crowded beach areas, or a busy itinerary. The tour visits several places, but that means some stops are short. It is not designed as a long, quiet beach day at one secluded cove.

Pickup is available from the ferry terminal at Cirkewwa in Malta or from Pontoon A near Gleneagles Bar in Mgarr, Gozo. Check the exact meeting instructions carefully, since the Cirkewwa boat may be moored or waiting to berth among ferry traffic.

Should you book it?

Book this private luzzu tour if you can share the cost with a sizeable group and want Comino’s best water activities in one outing. The Santa Marija Cave swim, Crystal Lagoon caves, private boat, and useful onboard facilities give it more substance than a basic Blue Lagoon transfer.

I would not choose it solely for a quiet beach escape. The Blue Lagoon can be busy, the schedule moves quickly, and meals and drinks are extra. But if you want to swim through caves, snorkel at Cominotto Reef, see the P31 wreck when visibility allows, and let a crew guide you around the coast, this is a well-rounded four-hour choice.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. The tour is offered in English and Italian.

FAQ

How long is the private Comino boat tour?

The tour lasts four hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private boat can accommodate a group of up to 20 people.

Where can I meet the boat?

You can meet the boat at Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal in Malta or at Pontoon A near Gleneagles Bar in Mgarr, Gozo.

What type of boat is used?

The tour uses a traditional 12-meter Maltese fishing boat called a luzzu.

Are snorkeling masks included?

Yes. Snorkeling masks, a stand-up paddleboard, fishing equipment, and ice coolers are included.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, though the boat has a bar selling alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, snacks, and ice cream. Kiosks are also available at the Blue Lagoon.

Which languages does the guide speak?

The live guide service is available in English and Italian.