Comino: Private Boat Trips, Swimming stops and Caves Tours

Comino’s famous Blue Lagoon is only part of the story. This private trip takes you to Crystal Lagoon, Santa Maria Bay, caves, and Gozo’s quieter coves, with time to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and play your own music from the boat. You get a local skipper, fuel, snorkel masks, a cooler with ice, and room for up to 25 people.

I like the freedom to shape the day around your group, and I like the boat’s practical setup: a shaded rear deck, open sun decks, a toilet, fresh-water shower, and a low bathing platform with an easy ladder. The main consideration is price. At $648 per group, it is excellent value for a large party, but costly for only two or three people.

Key points before you book

• Crystal Lagoon and the Blue Lagoon: You get time for swimming and snorkeling at Comino’s best-known water stops, with the route adjusted when conditions change.
• A private boat for up to 25 people: The fixed group price works best for families, birthday groups, and friends traveling together.
• Skippers who tailor the day: Angelo, Marvic, Fabio, and Frankie are among the crew names associated with recent trips, with a clear focus on flexible routes and personal service.
• Useful onboard comforts: Bring food and drinks, then use the cooler and free ice. The boat also has a toilet, shower, shaded seating, and Bluetooth speakers.
• Gozo’s south coast adds variety: You may visit Ħondoq Ir-Rummien, Qala Valley, Ramla Bay, Ghajn Barrani, Dahlet Qorrot, or San Blas Bay, depending on your chosen route and the weather.
• Half-day or full-day timing: Standard options run from 9 a.m. to noon or 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the operator can sometimes adjust the start and finish times.

Why a private Comino boat trip makes sense

The big advantage here is control. Instead of joining a packed boat with a fixed route, you have the Lucky Lady for your own group and a skipper who can change the plan around wind, sea conditions, and your energy levels. That matters in the Maltese islands, where a calm bay can feel very different from an exposed stretch of coast.

You can spend longer in the water if everyone is having fun, move on if a stop is crowded, or ask to see more of Gozo instead of staying at Comino all day. The operator describes the trip as a four to six-hour outing, with a usual full-day schedule from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a shorter option from 9 a.m. to noon.

I especially like this format for a group celebration. One group of seven used the boat for a 40th birthday, bringing drinks aboard, connecting music by Bluetooth, and stopping for lunch in Gozo. The skipper, Marvic, also showed them places to snorkel and a shipwreck visible about 20 metres below the surface. That sort of personal planning is hard to get on a large shared cruise.

The trade-off is simple: the private rate is charged per boat, not per person. A full group of 20 to 25 can split $648 into a very reasonable amount each. A small group may find a shared boat cheaper. You are paying for space, flexibility, and privacy rather than just transport from one bay to the next.

Boarding at Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour

You can start from Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal in Malta or Gozo Ferry Terminal at Mgarr Harbour. At Cirkewwa, the meeting point is behind the food kiosk near the Gozo Channel ferry car-queuing lanes. At Mgarr, go to the main jetty at the far end, beyond the fast ferry terminal.

The exact waiting point is sent by WhatsApp after booking. That is useful because ferry terminals can be busy and the boat may not be immediately obvious from the road or passenger entrance. Give yourself enough time to find the meeting point, especially if you are carrying food, towels, snorkel gear, or a birthday supply of drinks.

The boat can collect you from Gozo or Malta, so choose the departure point that fits your day. If you are already staying on Gozo, Mgarr is the natural choice. If you are based on Malta or arriving from the mainland, Cirkewwa may save you a separate transfer.

The boat carries a maximum of 25 passengers. That does not mean 25 people will always be booked together, since this is a private charter. It means the boat is suited to a substantial family group or several friends sharing the cost.

The Lucky Lady boat and what it feels like onboard

The Lucky Lady is set up more like a day boat than a fast transfer vessel. You have seats around the boat, a covered area at the back for shade, an open front deck for sun, and access to a rooftop deck. If you want to alternate between shade and sun, the layout makes that easy.

At the rear, a low bathing platform and climbing ladder let you enter and leave the water without an awkward scramble over the side. There is also an outdoor fresh-water shower, useful for rinsing away salt after swimming. A toilet is available onboard, which becomes especially valuable on a four to six-hour outing.

Inside, the cabin has a sofa. Outside, you can use the stereo and speakers by connecting your phone through Bluetooth. Bring a charged phone and a playlist if music is part of your group’s plan, but remember that a boat day also includes engine noise, wind, and the sounds of people in the water.

Snorkel masks are provided for free use during the trip. Life jackets for adults and children are also onboard if needed. Stand-up paddle boards are available for an extra charge, but you must arrange them before the trip. They are not something to count on adding at the last minute.

Food and drinks are not included. You can bring ready-to-eat food and drinks onto the boat, then use the cooler box and complimentary ice. The skipper may also suggest stopping at Mgarr Harbour for lunch, where you can choose from food outlets, kiosks, and restaurants. Bringing your own supplies gives you more time in the bays, while eating in Gozo gives you a proper break from the boat.

Saint Mary’s Tower and Comino’s first views

After a short sightseeing cruise, the boat passes Saint Mary’s Tower, also known as the tower at Santa Marija. The listed schedule allows around five minutes for a photo stop and a view from the water.

This is a quick orientation point rather than a long visit on foot. You see Comino’s defensive architecture from the boat, then continue toward the water stops. Keep your camera ready, since the boat may only pause briefly before moving on.

The tower also helps set the tone for the day. Comino is not only about swimming pools of bright water. The island has rough coast, old fortifications, caves, and small inlets, all best understood from offshore.

Crystal Lagoon, about 80 minutes in the water

Crystal Lagoon is one of the strongest parts of the route. The schedule allows about 80 minutes here for swimming, snorkeling, and looking for marine life. The clear water and enclosed feel make it a good first major stop, when you still have plenty of energy.

You can enter from the bathing platform, swim, or use a mask to look below the surface. If you prefer not to spend the whole time in the water, the deck gives you room to dry off and sunbathe. The open front and rooftop areas are useful here, but use the shaded rear deck if the midday sun becomes too much.

Crystal Lagoon can feel more exposed to boat traffic and summer crowds than a small Gozo cove. A private charter does not mean the sea belongs only to your group. Your advantage is that the skipper can adjust the timing and move you onward if conditions are poor or the stop is not comfortable.

The water temperature also depends on the month. A June group found the sea less cold than expected, but that is personal and seasonal. Pack a towel and a dry layer for the ride between stops, even on a warm day.

The Blue Lagoon and the long middle stop

The Blue Lagoon receives the longest scheduled pause, about two and a half hours. This is enough time for swimming, snorkeling, a cocktail or lunch, and relaxed sightseeing without rushing back aboard after a quick photo.

The Blue Lagoon is Comino’s star attraction, and its clear water explains why. It is also the stop most likely to feel busy, especially during the main summer hours. A private boat gives you a better base than arriving without a plan, since you can return to your own seating, cooler, and shade instead of treating the whole visit as one long stay on a crowded shore.

You may want to use this period in two parts: get into the water early, then eat and rest once the sun is strongest. If your group has children or mixed swimming ability, the boat’s ladder, life jackets, shade, and toilet are practical advantages.

Food is your responsibility here. Bring sandwiches, fruit, and drinks if you want a simple picnic, or ask about a lunch stop in Gozo instead. The cooler has ice, but it is not a catering service, so pack food that is easy to eat onboard and avoid anything that needs plates, cooking, or elaborate preparation.

Mgarr Harbour and a taste of Gozo

The route then moves to Mgarr Harbour for roughly 30 minutes. This can be a photo stop, a chance to see the harbor, or a useful lunch break.

Mgarr is a practical pause because you can choose from several food outlets and restaurants rather than relying on whatever you packed. It also breaks up a day that otherwise centers on swimming. If someone in your group wants a dry-land moment, this is the natural opportunity.

The stop may feel too long if everyone wants to stay in the water, particularly on a shorter charter. Discuss your priorities with the skipper at the start. The operator allows custom timing when availability and conditions permit, so tell the crew if your group prefers more swimming and less time ashore.

Ħondoq Ir-Rummien and the Gozo coast

Ħondoq Ir-Rummien Beach is scheduled for about 30 minutes of sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling, and marine-life viewing. It gives you a change from Comino’s famous lagoons and lets you see Gozo from the water.

The south coast also offers other possible stops, including Qala Valley, Ramla Bay, Ghajn Barrani, Dahlet Qorrot, and San Blas Bay. You may not see all of them in one trip. The final route depends on the duration you choose, sea conditions, and what your group asks to do.

That flexibility is one of the reasons I would choose a private charter over a fixed sightseeing cruise. If a calm bay appeals more than another famous viewpoint, you can ask about it. If swimming is the main goal, tell the skipper before setting off so the day does not become mostly a cruise past coves.

Santa Maria Caves and the trip back

The final listed stop is Santa Maria Caves, with about ten minutes for a photo stop and a look from the boat. This is a brief visit, not a long cave walk, so set your expectations accordingly.

The caves are best appreciated from the water, where you can see the openings and the rock formations from a low angle. The boat then returns to Cirkewwa or Mgarr for drop-off.

The schedule includes several short sightseeing cruises of around ten minutes. These transfers are useful breathing spaces between swims, though the exact timing can change. Wind, waves, and the number of people entering the water all affect how quickly the day moves.

Weather, flexibility, and the practical details

The sea decides the route. If the weather is unsuitable, the operator may postpone the trip or cancel it with the deposit refunded in full. One booking originally had a speedboat tour canceled because of strong winds, but the company arranged a different plan, with Jeanette responding quickly and captains Fabio and Frankie changing the schedule around the conditions.

That is worth keeping in mind when you book. A calm forecast does not guarantee that every bay will be comfortable. You should treat the route as a plan, not a promise that every named location will be visited in precisely the listed order.

The booking allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. The host speaks English. The private format and pickup service simplify the day, but you should still confirm your exact meeting point through WhatsApp and arrive ready for a sea outing.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, a dry layer, food if you do not want a Gozo lunch, and a charged phone for Bluetooth music. If you want a paddle board, request it before the trip. Most importantly, agree within your group on how much time you want for swimming, lunch, sightseeing, and sunbathing.

Who should book this private charter?

I would choose this boat for a family or friend group that wants a relaxed day on its own terms. It suits birthday celebrations, mixed-age groups, and people who care more about swimming and good company than a formal guided commentary.

It is also a strong option for snorkelers who want several water stops and the chance to ask the skipper about quieter coves. The provided masks remove one item from your packing list, while the shower, toilet, shade, and cooler make a long day at sea easier.

You should think twice if you are traveling alone or as a couple and want the lowest possible price. The $648 cost is much easier to justify when split among 10, 15, or 25 people. You should also avoid booking around a very tight schedule, since weather can alter the route and the exact departure time may be adjusted.

Should you book the Comino private boat trip?

Book it if you can fill a good part of the boat and want privacy, flexible swimming stops, and a skipper who will shape the day around your group. The combination of Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Gozo’s coves, Santa Maria Caves, onboard shade, a cooler, and free music makes this more than a simple transfer.

The strongest reason to choose it is the personal service. Angelo and Marvic are associated with repeat bookings and careful route planning, while Fabio and Frankie handled a weather-changed day with a flexible approach. Still, remember that the Blue Lagoon can be busy, food costs extra, paddle boards cost extra, and sea conditions may change the plan.

For a large group, I consider the price good value. For a small party, compare the total against shared cruises before booking. If your group wants a private day with plenty of time in the water, this is a sensible way to see Comino and Gozo.

FAQ

How many people can the Lucky Lady boat carry?

The boat has a maximum capacity of 25 passengers. The charter is private, so the boat is reserved for your own group up to that limit.

Where can the boat pick us up?

Pickup is available at Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal in Malta or Mgarr Harbour on Gozo. The exact waiting point is sent by WhatsApp after your booking is confirmed.

How long does the trip last?

The activity lasts from four to six hours. Standard full-day trips usually run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while half-day trips generally run from 9 a.m. to noon. Start and finish times may be adjusted if availability allows.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You can bring ready-to-eat food and drinks onboard and use the cooler box with complimentary ice. You can also ask the skipper about stopping at Mgarr Harbour for lunch.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Snorkel masks are provided and can be used throughout the trip. Stand-up paddle boards are available for an extra charge and must be booked before departure.

What happens if the weather is unsuitable?

The trip is subject to suitable weather conditions. If the weather prevents the outing, you can postpone it to another available date or cancel and receive the deposit back in full.