Comino and Gozo Private Boat Tour : Julie Pearl Boat

The best reason to book the Julie Pearl is simple: you get Comino’s famous water without being tied to a crowded public boat schedule. Your private group can swim at Blue Lagoon, poke into caves, and spend more time at the spots that suit you.

I like the flexible route and the fact that the boat carries up to 15 people, making the price far more sensible for a large family or group of friends. I also like the practical touches: free snorkeling masks, fuel included, a cooler with ice, and the option to bring your own food and drinks.

The main drawback is that the price is steep for a small party. Blue Lagoon can also be very busy in summer, so a private boat gives you control, but it cannot make Malta’s busiest swimming stop empty.

Key points to know before you book

• Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon: You get time to swim and snorkel in two of Comino’s clearest bays, with cave visits included.
• A genuinely private boat: Only your own group joins the trip, with room for up to 15 people.
• Flexible skippers: Marvic and Fabio are named as skippers who can explain the sights and adjust stops and timing.
• Gozo’s quieter south coast: The route includes Tal-Halfa Beach, Hondoq Bay, and Bemberin Gorge.
• Bring your own picnic: Food and drinks are not included, but a cooler and ice are provided.
• Good value for big groups: At the full capacity of 15, the listed price works out to about $48 per person.

Why a private boat changes the Comino experience

Comino’s Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s best-known sights, and that fame comes with a cost: many boats arrive at the same place during summer. On the Julie Pearl, you are not simply dropped off with a fixed crowd and a fixed departure time. You have a private boat, a skipper, and a route that can be adjusted to your group.

That matters most if you are traveling with family or friends who do not all want the same thing. Some people may want a long swim. Others may prefer a shaded ride past the caves, a quiet beach, or a little cliff jumping at Bemberin Gorge. The private setup lets the skipper shape the day around your pace.

The boat is priced at $716.85 for up to 15 people. For a full group, that is about $47.79 each. With 14 people, it is about $51.20 per person, and with eight people, about $89.61 each. For two people, the cost is much harder to justify unless privacy matters more to you than budget.

The advertised duration ranges from two to six hours, while the listed stops add up to about five hours. That suggests some flexibility in the final plan. Confirm the exact duration and meeting details when booking, especially if you have a tight schedule.

Blue Lagoon: the famous stop worth planning around

Blue Lagoon is the headline stop. The bay sits between Malta and Gozo, on Comino’s western side, with shallow, clear water that is ideal for swimming and snorkeling. The boat anchors at a favored spot in the lagoon, giving you a chance to get into the water rather than simply admire it from the deck.

The water is the star here. Shallow sections make the lagoon approachable for many swimming abilities, though you should still follow the skipper’s advice about where to enter and remain near the boat when needed. Snorkeling masks are supplied at no extra charge, so you do not need to pack your own equipment.

Allow about two hours at Blue Lagoon in the planned version of the trip. That is enough time for a proper swim, a look beneath the surface, and a break on the boat. If your group prefers quieter water to sightseeing by boat, this is likely where you will want to use much of your time.

The catch is the crowds. Blue Lagoon attracts hundreds of people during the summer months. A private boat improves your access and gives you more control over the stop, but it does not remove the other boats, swimmers, or noise from the bay.

Crystal Lagoon and Comino’s cave country

Crystal Lagoon is a good counterpoint to Blue Lagoon. It lies on the northwest side of Comino and is known for clear turquoise water, shallow cave entrances, and sandy sections beneath the surface. The planned stop lasts about an hour and a half, which gives you time for swimming, snorkeling, or fishing.

This is also where the boat can show you several caves, including Lovers Cave and Popeye’s Cave. The surroundings have appeared in major films, and the cave entrances are more than a quick photo stop. You get a sense of how the islands’ limestone coast has been shaped by water over time.

Bream fish are common in the area, so bring your mask into the water if you enjoy looking for marine life. The snorkeling equipment is included, and the skipper can show you around the caves by boat.

I would treat Crystal Lagoon as one of the most useful parts of the route for people who want time in the water rather than a long list of shore stops. The only limit is that cave access and swimming conditions depend on the sea and weather on the day.

Gozo’s south coast, from Tal-Halfa to Bemberin Gorge

The Gozo portion gives the trip more variety. Instead of staying only around Comino’s well-known bays, the boat cruises along Gozo’s southern coast near Qala.

Tal-Halfa Beach sits behind a large solitary rock called Halfa Rock. The beach has clay-rich sand, and the rock gives the spot a distinct shape and a sense of separation from the more developed parts of the islands. This stop is brief, around one hour for the Gozo section as a whole, so expect to see several places rather than spend a full afternoon at one beach.

Hondoq Bay has a pebbly shore and clear blue water. It is another appealing swimming stop, especially for a group that wants to alternate between sandy areas, rocky coast, and open water.

Bemberin Gorge is the most unusual place on this part of the route. It is a narrow inlet reached by boat, with caves and clear water. The setting is particularly suited to confident swimmers and people interested in cliff jumping. I would not treat cliff jumping as a casual activity, though. Use care, follow the skipper’s instructions, and remember that water depth and conditions can change.

This Gozo section is valuable because it breaks up the famous Comino stops. You get a look at a less familiar stretch of coast and several places that cannot be reached as easily from land.

Santa Maria Bay for a quieter swim

Santa Maria Bay is the calmer alternative to Blue Lagoon. It has a small sandy beach, shallow clear water, and tamarisk trees that provide some shade. It sits beside Comino’s small police station and is about a 20-minute walk from Blue Lagoon.

If your group has had enough of the noise around Blue Lagoon, Santa Maria Bay offers a more relaxed change of pace. The water is shallow, and the beach is generally clean and sandy. It is a sensible stop for anyone who wants to swim without spending the whole day in Comino’s busiest bay.

There is one minor imperfection: currents can leave dead algae along parts of the shore. That does not define the bay, but it is worth knowing if you expect a spotless beach at every moment.

The planned stop lasts about an hour. You can swim from the boat, go ashore, or simply sit in the quieter surroundings. Ask the skipper how long the boat will remain if your group wants to split up between the water and the beach.

Elephant Rock and the Santa Maria Caves

Elephant Rock is a passing attraction rather than a formal stop. The natural arch on Comino’s eastern side resembles an elephant lowering its head toward the water. Keep your camera ready because the boat passes it at some point during the trip.

The water around the rock has a sandy seabed with scattered posidonia patches. Depths in the area range from about three to 18 meters, but the tour description presents Elephant Rock as something to view while cruising, not as a separate snorkeling stop.

The Santa Maria Caves are scheduled for about 30 minutes. This group of five shallow caves sits on Comino’s north side and has been used as a filming location for The Count of Monte Cristo. The cave entrances and rock formations give the final part of the route a more scenic, enclosed feel after the open-water swimming stops.

Half an hour is enough for a boat visit and photographs, though not for a long swim and an extended cave exploration. Conditions at the entrances depend on the sea, so listen to the skipper before approaching any cave.

What the skipper and boat setup add

The people running the boat can make a large difference on a private trip. Marvic is described as a friendly skipper who gives facts about each location and makes sure the group sees the key sights. Fabio is noted for allowing a group to help decide where to go and how long to remain at each place.

Those details matter because a private boat is only as good as the communication on board. You want a skipper who can explain the route, keep the day moving, and still listen when your group wants a longer swim or a different balance between beaches and caves.

Communication before the trip is handled by Jeanette, who provides quick replies and can arrange optional transport to and from the boat. That transfer is not included in the price, but it can be arranged by private taxi, van, or coach for an additional cost.

The boat also includes a Bluetooth speaker, according to the experience details provided by the operator. That may appeal to a group of friends, though you should keep the volume sensible around other boats and swimmers.

Food, timing, and what to bring

Lunch, food, and drinks are not included. The good news is that you may bring your own supplies, and a cooler with ice is provided. For a five-hour outing, I would pack more water than you think you need, along with food that is easy to eat on a moving boat.

A private picnic is one of the better ways to control the cost of this trip. You avoid paying for a packaged meal and can bring exactly what your group likes. The boat may also be able to stop at a harbor for lunch, depending on the plan and timing.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and a dry bag for phones and cameras. The supplied masks cover the basic snorkeling need, but you can ask ahead if you prefer to bring personal equipment.

The operating hours shown for this experience are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., from Monday through Sunday, with dates listed through July 2026. The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend the Julie Pearl most strongly for a group of friends, a family celebration, or a mixed-age party that wants its own boat. The capacity of 15 is the key value point. A full group can split the cost in a way that makes private access much more reasonable.

It also suits people who care about swimming and snorkeling more than ticking off inland sights. The route spends its time around bays, caves, beaches, and coastal rock formations. If you prefer museums, walking tours, or long time ashore, this is not the best use of your day in Malta.

The trip works for many ability levels, and the operator describes it as safe and suitable for all types of groups. Still, swimming, boat movement, uneven cave areas, and cliff jumping require personal judgment. Anyone who is not a confident swimmer should tell the skipper and stay with the safer options.

The 100 percent recommendation rate and five-star average from 26 ratings suggest very strong satisfaction, especially with the crew, communication, and value for larger groups. One four-star rating also points to the sensible conclusion: this is a good value when shared widely, but less compelling when only a few people pay.

Should you book the Julie Pearl?

Book it if your group can fill much of the boat and wants a private day built around Comino’s water. The combination of Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Gozo’s south coast, Santa Maria Bay, and the sea caves gives you more variety than a short point-to-point boat ride.

I especially like this option for a group of eight to 15 people. You can bring your own lunch and drinks, use the cooler, borrow snorkeling masks, and ask the skipper to adjust the pace. That freedom is the main reason to choose it over a cheaper shared boat.

Think twice if you are traveling as a couple, dislike swimming, or want a quiet, crowd-free Blue Lagoon. The private boat helps with comfort and control, but the most famous bay can still be busy. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure, which gives you some protection if plans change, while weather-related cancellations offer a new date or full refund.

FAQ

How much does the Julie Pearl boat tour cost?

The price is $716.85 for a private group of up to 15 people. The cost per person becomes much lower when the boat is filled.

How long does the boat tour last?

The advertised duration is approximately two to six hours. The listed stops total about five hours, so confirm the exact schedule when booking.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling masks and equipment are included at no extra cost.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Yes. Lunch, food, and drinks are not included, but you may bring your own. A cooler with ice is provided for your use.

Is transportation to the boat included?

Pickup can be offered, but private taxi, van, or coach transfers cost extra. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The trip requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can select another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.