Comino Private Boat Tours: Blue/Crystal Lagoon, Malta & Gozo

Comino’s best scenery is on the water, and this private speedboat trip puts you close to sea caves, rocky points, and two famous lagoons. I like the private format, which lets your group set the mood, and the chance to stop for swimming and snorkelling rather than simply taking photographs from shore. I also like that skipper Mario has earned praise for clear explanations, good communication, and taking excellent photos.

The main caution is the price structure. The advertised fare is $17 per person, but a professional skipper and fuel are each listed as an additional €44, so you should confirm the full cost before booking. The trip is also sold as one hour, while the stated stop times add up to longer, so ask exactly how much time you will have on the water.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for your own group: You can choose the stops or follow the skipper’s plan instead of sharing a fixed boat with strangers.
• Crystal Lagoon swimming stop: Expect time for swimming, snorkelling, and looking for marine life in clear water.
• Blue Lagoon by speedboat: You approach the famous lagoon from the sea, with free time for photos and a swim.
• Mario is a frequent skipper: He is praised for friendly service, useful explanations, safe handling, and taking photos and videos.
• Useful onboard comforts: Shade, seating, a sundeck, ice cooler, Bluetooth speaker, Wi-Fi, masks, snorkels, and life vests are included.
• Check the final price and timing: The skipper and fuel are extra, and the listed one-hour duration does not match every published stop length when added together.

Why a private Comino boat makes sense

Comino is small, but its shoreline is full of folds and corners that are easy to miss from land. A boat gives you a better view of the island’s cliffs, narrow inlets, sea caves, and pale rock shelves. You also avoid spending the whole outing on one crowded patch of beach.

This is not a large sightseeing cruise with a fixed script. You book a private group, then decide how much time to give the lagoons, caves, photographs, and swimming. You can name the places you want to see, or let the skipper plan the route around the sea and your interests.

That freedom matters most for couples, families, and small groups who do not all want the same thing. One group might want photographs and a calm ride. Another might care more about snorkelling. The boat can be adjusted within the limits of weather, tides, shallow water, and the available charter time.

The operator uses speedboats with shaded seating and a sundeck. That makes the ride more comfortable than sitting in full sun for the entire trip, though the canopy will not replace sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. You also get a cooler for ice, a Bluetooth speaker, Wi-Fi, masks, snorkels, and safety vests.

Leaving from Ċirkewwa or Gozo

You can meet the boat at one of two locations. In Malta, the departure point is near the Ċirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal. In Gozo, it is in the Mġarr departure area, close to Sicilia Bella Restaurant at Mġarr Harbour Terminal.

Plan to arrive 30 minutes early. That is especially sensible at Ċirkewwa, where traffic and ferry-terminal movement can slow you down. The boat will not wait indefinitely, and a late arrival does not extend your charter.

The ride begins with about 10 minutes on the speedboat. This is a practical way to reach the points around Comino quickly, but the boat ride itself can feel lively if the sea is choppy. The skipper has the final say on cancellation, timing, route changes, and departure or return points when conditions require it.

You should treat the route as a plan rather than a promise carved in stone. Wind, tides, shallow areas, and sea conditions can change the order of stops or remove a stop altogether. That flexibility is a safety feature, not a flaw, but it is worth understanding before you set your expectations.

Passing Lantern Point and L-Iskoll ta’ Taħt il-Mazz

The first scenic section includes Lantern Point and L-Iskoll ta’ Taħt il-Mazz. These are mainly pass-by and photo stops, with about five minutes assigned to each.

Do not expect long walks or a formal visit at these points. Their value is visual: you get a low-water view of Comino’s rocky edge, open sea, and unusual coastal shapes. From a boat, you can frame the cliffs and water without having to search for a viewpoint on land.

I would keep your camera ready from the start. With short stops, you may have only a brief chance to take a photograph before the boat moves on. If you want a longer pause at one of these spots, ask the skipper early, though the final decision depends on the overall time and sea conditions.

Roofless Cave and the Comino coast

The Roofless Cave receives about 10 minutes and is described as a visit and guided sightseeing stop. The name gives you a good clue to the appeal: this is a natural rock opening that you view from the boat, with the sea and cliff walls shaping the scene.

A boat is the right way to see coastal caves. You can get close to the entrance, look into the shadowed rock, and see how the water cuts into the shoreline. Still, this is not presented as a walking cave tour or a long shore visit. Expect a short stop for photographs and an explanation from the English-speaking skipper.

This is one place where the private setup helps. You can ask Mario, or another skipper, to explain what you are seeing instead of trying to follow a talk meant for a large crowd. The available information says the captain shares historical details about the Maltese islands, so you can expect more than a silent transfer between swimming areas.

Crystal Lagoon for swimming and snorkelling

The Crystal Lagoon is the main water stop in the first half of the route, with about 20 minutes assigned for swimming, snorkelling, photographs, and viewing marine life.

The name is not just marketing fluff. The attraction here is the clear water and the rocky setting. You can use the supplied mask and snorkel to look below the surface, though the amount of marine life you see will depend on visibility, weather, and the season. The boat carries safety vests, but you should still be comfortable around open water and follow the skipper’s instructions.

Twenty minutes is enough for a quick swim and a short look beneath the surface. It is not enough for an unhurried snorkelling session if your group has several swimmers taking turns. If swimming is your priority, say so before the boat leaves and ask how the time will be divided.

The boat’s shade and ice cooler are especially useful here. You can dry off in the shade, keep drinks cool, and avoid hauling a large beach bag onto the boat. Food and drinks are not included, so bring your own supplies and carry cash for anything you may need.

Cominotto and the approach to Blue Lagoon

Cominotto is a short scenic stop, listed at about 10 minutes. It sits across from Comino and adds another angle to the route. You will pass by its rocky shore, take photographs, and see how the small island relates to the larger coast around it.

The route then reaches Blue Lagoon, with about 20 minutes set aside for photographs, free time, swimming, snorkelling, and sailing. This is the most famous part of the outing, and it is also the stop where expectations need careful handling.

Blue Lagoon is beautiful, but it is not a secret cove. Its fame brings people, boats, and activity. A private charter gives you a more personal boat and a better chance to choose where you anchor, but it cannot make the whole lagoon empty. The skipper aims to select a spot away from the heaviest activity when conditions allow.

You can swim from the boat rather than claim a narrow piece of shoreline. That can be a much better use of limited time, especially if your main goal is clear water and a quick snorkel. On the other hand, if you want to spend an hour lounging on the beach, this one-hour charter is not designed for that.

The boat may remain in the area for photographs and swimming, then takes about 10 minutes to return. Ask how long the total charter lasts and how the Blue Lagoon stop fits into it, because the published stop schedule totals more than the stated one-hour duration.

What Mario adds to the experience

Mario is the skipper most often associated with this departure, and his role goes well beyond steering. He is praised for friendly communication, clear explanations, safe handling, and helping people enjoy the route without making it feel rushed.

One especially useful detail is his willingness to handle changes. A last-minute adjustment may be possible when the schedule and sea allow it, but you should not count on a longer trip simply because the boat is private. The captain still has to manage fuel, timing, other bookings, and safe return.

Mario has also taken photographs and videos for passengers. That is a nice practical touch if you want to be in the picture rather than spend the whole trip holding your phone. Bring your own device anyway, and do not assume professional photography is included as a separate service.

The live guiding language is English. If you want local stories or more detail about a cave or coastal point, ask directly. A private boat is at its best when you use that access to shape the conversation.

The real value of the $17 price

At first glance, $17 per person sounds remarkably low for a private boat. The important detail is that the professional skipper costs €44 extra, and fuel costs another €44. Those charges may apply to the charter rather than to each person, but the supplied information does not make that point clear enough to calculate your final total.

I would confirm three things before paying: the full price for your group, whether the skipper and fuel fees are fixed per booking, and the exact charter length. A private boat can be good value when several people share the cost, especially because the boat, safety equipment, shade, snorkelling gear, cooler, Wi-Fi, and speaker are included.

For one or two people, the extra charges may change the calculation. You could compare the final private rate with a shared boat, but the private option gives you control over the route and a quieter setting. That control is the product you are paying for, not just the transport.

Food, drinks, and fishing equipment are not included. Pack what you need, but keep bags compact. Sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and cash are specifically useful items to bring.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would recommend this boat for a group that values privacy, swimming access, and a flexible route more than a long beach stay. It fits couples, families, friends, and solo visitors who want a boat to themselves.

It is also a good choice if you have limited time around Malta or Gozo. In a short outing, you can see several coastal points, two lagoons, Cominotto, and a cave without arranging separate transport.

Families should note that the boat has seating, shade, and life vests, but the activity still takes place on open water. Children and adults need to follow the skipper’s safety instructions. Anyone using a wheelchair should choose another activity, since this boat trip is not suitable for wheelchair users.

I would be more cautious about booking if you want a full-day cruise, long snorkelling sessions, fishing, or extensive time on land. Those are not part of this compact package. The route is built around scenic passes and short water breaks.

Timing, weather, and the small print

The trip offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That helps if your Malta or Gozo plans are still moving around.

The skipper can cancel or postpone the charter, change the route, or alter the departure and return point because of weather, tides, shallow water, or other valid operating concerns. You should accept that as part of booking a small boat rather than expecting a fixed bus-style schedule.

The published schedule gives 10 minutes for the first speedboat ride, five minutes each at Lantern Point and L-Iskoll ta’ Taħt il-Mazz, 10 minutes at Roofless Cave, 20 minutes at Crystal Lagoon, 10 minutes at Cominotto, 20 minutes at Blue Lagoon, and 10 minutes for the return. Since those figures do not fit neatly within the stated one-hour duration, contact the operator before booking if timing matters to you.

Should you book the Comino private boat?

Book it if you want a personal speedboat, short swims in clear water, close views of Comino’s caves and coast, and the freedom to ask for a route suited to your group. Mario’s friendly handling, explanations, and help with photos add useful human touches.

Skip it if the extra skipper and fuel fees push the final price beyond your budget, or if you want a long, slow day at the beach. The best value comes when several people share the private charter and make good use of the swimming and sightseeing time.

Before you commit, confirm the total cost and the true duration. If those two details suit you, this is a practical way to see Comino from the sea without being tied to a large group schedule.

FAQ

Where does the boat depart from?

You can meet the boat at the Gozo Channel Ferry terminal in Ċirkewwa, near the Ċirkewwa Kiosk, or at the Mġarr departure area in Gozo, close to Sicilia Bella Restaurant at Mġarr Harbour Terminal.

How long does the activity last?

The activity is listed as one hour. The published schedule includes several stops whose individual times add up to longer, so confirm the exact duration with the operator before booking.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The charter is for a private group, and you can suggest your preferred stops or follow the skipper’s route.

Are the skipper and fuel included in the price?

No. The professional skipper is listed at €44 extra, and fuel consumption is also listed at €44 extra. Confirm how these charges apply to your booking.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes. Masks and snorkels are included, along with safety equipment and life vests. Swimming and snorkelling are planned at Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and cash. Food and drinks are not included.