Private Boat Tours From Malta/Gozo: Comino & Blue Lagoon

The best reason to book this Comino trip is simple: you get a private boat for up to six people instead of sharing every minute with a packed excursion. Your skipper can take you past sea caves, Cominotto, Crystal Lagoon, and Blue Lagoon, then stop for swimming or snorkelling when the conditions are right. Mario and Joe are frequently praised for being punctual, friendly, and good at showing off the coast.

I especially like the choice between one and two hours. A one-hour ride gives you a quick look at the main sights, while two hours gives your group time to swim, snorkel, and enjoy the boat without racing from cove to cove. The early 9 a.m. departure can also help you reach the water before the busiest part of the day. The catch is the price: the advertised $69 covers the boat, but the skipper and fuel are listed separately at €39 each, so check the final total before booking.

Key points to know before you book

• Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon: Both offer time for swimming, photos, and snorkelling, with the exact stop shaped by sea conditions.
• Private group of up to six: You choose the company and can play your own music through the Bluetooth speaker.
• Mario and Joe are frequent skipper names: Both receive praise for punctuality, warmth, safety, and local commentary.
• Two hours is the better choice for swimming: The one-hour option works for sightseeing but can feel rushed if you want time in the water.
• Caves and coastline viewing: The route can include Roofless Cave, Lovers Cave, Pigeon Rock, Lantern Point, and other coastal formations.
• Extra fees matter: Skipper and fuel are not included in the advertised boat price.

Why a private Comino boat makes sense

Comino is famous for the Blue Lagoon, but the famous name can create a false picture of the experience. A public boat trip often has a fixed route and a fixed timetable. With this charter, your group has a smaller boat, a skipper, and room to shape the outing around swimming, photographs, caves, or quiet time on the water.

That flexibility is the real value. You can ask to spend more time at Crystal Lagoon, make a quick pass by Cominotto, or focus on the sea caves. The skipper still makes the final call because weather, tides, shallow water, and sea conditions affect the route. You get more choice, but not a promise that every listed stop will be visited.

The boat accommodates up to six people, so the cost works best when shared by a family or small group. At the advertised $69 per boat, the headline price looks low. Add the listed €39 skipper fee and €39 fuel fee, then confirm the currency and final amount at checkout. For six people, the cost can compare well with several individual seats on a longer group cruise. For one or two people, the private setup may feel expensive, especially once the extras are added.

Starting at Mġarr or Ċirkewwa

You can meet the boat at either of two points. From Gozo, departure is in the Mġarr Harbour area, close to Sicilia Bella Restaurant at the ferry terminal. From Malta, the meeting point is near the Ċirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal.

Arrive about 30 minutes early. That buffer matters at a ferry terminal, where traffic, queues, and last minute confusion can eat into a short charter. The boat does not wait to extend your time if you arrive late, so punctuality is part of getting good value.

The trip begins with a short speedboat run. The published route breaks the outward journey into roughly 10 and 20 minute sections, followed by scenic stops and another 10 minute return run. Since the experience can last one or two hours, the exact balance between riding and stopping depends on the option you choose and the skipper’s plan.

The ride along Comino’s coast

The first part of the outing is as much about the coastline as the swimming. The speedboat lets you see the island from the water, where cliffs, rock shelves, narrow inlets, and cave openings form the main attraction.

Your skipper may point out Lantern Point, Pigeon Rock, Daħlet il-Ħmara, and other formations. Roofless Cave, known locally as L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf, and Lovers Cave are among the named spots on the route. Some are viewed from the boat, while others may allow a closer approach if water depth and conditions permit.

This is where a private charter has an edge over a simple transfer. You can ask for a photo pause rather than being carried straight past. Mario and Joe are both praised for taking pictures and pointing out sights, while Mario is also described as sharing facts and stories about the area.

Do not expect a full historical tour. The emphasis is on scenery, sea access, and a relaxed skipper-led outing. The best commentary will likely come in short explanations between stops, not in a formal lecture.

Crystal Lagoon is the main swimming stop

Crystal Lagoon usually provides the most peaceful water stop on the route. The boat pauses for about 20 minutes in the planned schedule, giving you time for photos, swimming, snorkelling, and looking for marine life.

The water is clear enough for you to see sea bream and other small fish, especially if the sea is calm. Snorkelling gear is included, with a mask and snorkel supplied on board. You should still bring your own equipment if you need a particular fit, since the supplied gear is basic rather than a full specialist setup.

For a one-hour booking, Crystal Lagoon may become a quick stop. You will have to balance the time spent getting there, viewing caves, and reaching the Blue Lagoon. If swimming is the main reason you are booking, I would choose two hours. Several groups found that the longer option gave them a more comfortable pace, while one group specifically found one hour too short for a proper swim.

The skipper can also change or shorten this stop if the sea is rough, the approach is too shallow, or conditions make swimming unsafe. That is worth remembering before you build your whole day around one exact location.

Cominotto and the Blue Lagoon

Cominotto is a small island beside Comino, and the boat passes by for photographs and coastal views. It is a useful part of the route because it gives you a wider sense of the channel and the rock formations around the lagoon. You may stop briefly rather than spend a long period there.

The Blue Lagoon is the headline stop. Its clear, bright water is the visual payoff of the trip, and the schedule allows roughly 20 minutes for swimming, snorkelling, sightseeing, and photographs. The color can be striking, but the area is also the best-known part of Comino, so it is not always quiet.

A private boat helps you avoid spending the entire outing on a large public vessel. It does not make the Blue Lagoon private. Other boats and swimmers may still be around, particularly later in the day. If you want a calmer feel, ask for an early departure. One couple chose 9 a.m. and found it a strong way to limit the crowds.

You can use the boat’s sundeck and canopy between stops. The canopy is useful when you need a break from the sun, while the open deck gives you a better position for photographs. Bring a towel, swimwear, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Cash is also listed among the recommended items, useful for any personal purchases during the day.

What is included, and what is not

The boat comes with seating, safety equipment, a sundeck with canopy, snorkelling masks and snorkels, an ice cooler, Bluetooth audio, and Wi-Fi. You can play your own music, which several families appreciated. The cooler is handy, but it does not mean food and drinks are supplied.

The following are not included:

• Skipper, listed at €39
• Fuel consumption, listed at €39
• Food and drinks
• Fishing equipment

Fishing equipment is not part of the package, but one group was allowed to do some fishing on the way back. Treat that as a skipper-dependent possibility, not a guaranteed feature.

The included safety gear matters for families and less confident swimmers. One family described the skipper as reassuring with children and attentive when a swimmer drifted from the boat. You should still follow the skipper’s instructions and judge your own swimming ability honestly. A short boat trip can feel active once you add ladders, waves, snorkelling, and getting back aboard.

The skippers shape the experience

The most praised part of this outing is the human side. Mario is repeatedly described as punctual, professional, warm, and eager to explain the coast. He also helped groups with photographs, played their music, and took care around children and swimmers.

Joe receives similar praise for being accommodating and engaging. He helped first-time snorkellers feel comfortable, pointed out sights, and even allowed fishing on the return ride for one group. Marko handled a last-minute night cruise that included a ride under the stars, showing that the operator can sometimes offer unusual timing when conditions and availability allow.

The published tour guide language is English. The skipper’s attitude will affect how much information you get and how relaxed the trip feels. One person had a disappointing experience because the skipper spent much of the tour on the phone. That appears to be an exception among the supplied feedback, but it is a useful reminder: private tours are personal, and the skipper is a major part of the product.

One hour or two hours?

Choose one hour if you mainly want a fast look at the caves and lagoons, with a short swim and a few photographs. It can work well when you have a ferry connection, a packed sightseeing day, or little interest in staying in the water.

Choose two hours if you want the trip to feel like a proper outing rather than a coastal transfer. You will have more time for Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, snorkelling, photographs, and pauses at the caves. Families and first-time snorkellers will usually appreciate the extra breathing room.

The published duration says one to two hours, and the exact starting times depend on availability. Ask for the longer slot if your group has mixed interests. One person may want to snorkel, another may prefer the shade, and children may need time to get comfortable on the boat. Two hours gives the skipper more room to adjust.

Best for families, couples, and small groups

This charter suits a group that values privacy and control more than a formal all-day program. Six friends can share the boat, choose their music, and decide how much time to spend in the water. A family can avoid being tied to the pace of strangers and can ask the skipper to keep the route reassuring and manageable.

It also works well for couples who want a short coastal outing instead of losing a full day to a cruise. The early departure is useful if you want photographs and water time before the Blue Lagoon becomes busier.

It is less suitable if you want a long, slow day at sea with meals, a full history talk, or guaranteed time at every named cave. The route is flexible, and the skipper can change it for legitimate safety and navigation reasons. The boat also appears designed for a small private outing rather than a large party with extensive onboard facilities.

Weather, timing, and practical limits

The skipper can cancel, postpone, or alter the trip because of weather and sea conditions. Routes and pickup or drop-off points can also change because of tides, shallow water, or other practical concerns. That is normal for a small boat around exposed coastlines, but you should keep some flexibility in your Malta or Gozo plans.

You return to the same general departure areas, Ċirkewwa or Mġarr, unless conditions require a change. Do not schedule an important connection immediately after the charter without a time cushion.

The boat has a canopy, but this is still an open-water activity. Wear sunscreen even if you plan to sit in the shade. A towel, swimsuit, sunglasses, and cash belong in your day bag. Food and drinks are not included, so plan accordingly.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the final booking terms for your selected time, especially because the skipper and fuel charges are separate from the advertised base price.

Should you book this Comino boat tour?

Book it if you want a short, private, flexible way to see Comino’s caves and lagoons. The strongest case is a group of four to six people choosing the two-hour option, arriving early, and treating the route as a mix of scenery and swimming rather than a checklist of fixed stops.

I would choose two hours for the best balance. One hour is enough for a taste, but it can leave little time to enjoy the water. Confirm the full cost, arrive 30 minutes early, and tell the skipper whether swimming, caves, photographs, or the Blue Lagoon matters most to your group.

Skip it if you need a guaranteed itinerary, included refreshments, or a quiet Blue Lagoon free of other boats. For everyone else, the combination of a small group, useful onboard gear, and skippers such as Mario and Joe makes this a strong option for a focused Comino outing.

FAQ

Where does the private boat tour depart?

The boat departs from two designated areas: Mġarr Harbour in Gozo, near Sicilia Bella Restaurant, or Ċirkewwa in Malta, near the kiosk at the Gozo Channel Terminal.

How long does the tour last?

You can choose a one-hour or two-hour charter, with starting times based on availability.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price applies per boat for a private group of up to six people.

Are the skipper and fuel included in the advertised price?

No. The skipper is listed at €39 and fuel consumption at €39. Food, drinks, and fishing equipment are also not included.

What places can the boat visit?

The route can include Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto, Lantern Point, Roofless Cave, Lovers Cave, Pigeon Rock, Daħlet il-Ħmara, and other caves and coastal spots.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are included. Safety equipment is also provided.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The booking also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.