Photo Shoots Adventure – Trips in Lovers Cave, Gozo & Comino

Comino’s Lovers Cave is the star of this short private cruise, with clear water, cave walls, and the freedom to pause for photographs or a swim. You can also reach Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon without sharing the boat with a large group.

I like the small private setting and the chance to shape the route around swimming, snorkelling, or photography. I also like that the skipper can show you less crowded coves and enter cave areas when sea conditions allow. The main drawback is time: two hours passes quickly, especially once you allow for boarding and several stops.

Key points to know before you book

• Lovers Cave and Popeye’s Cave give the trip its most distinctive photo settings.
• The boat is private for up to six people, so the $104 base price is per boat, not per person.
• Skipper and fuel charges are separate, listed at €49 each, so check the final cost before paying.
• Early morning and late afternoon light usually works best for portraits, sea color, and sunset photographs.
• April through June can offer better photo conditions before the busiest beach period.
• The route can change with wind, waves, tides, shallow water, and other sea conditions.

A two-hour route built around photographs

This is not a long sightseeing cruise with a fixed list of stops. It is a compact private charter designed around good sea views, short swims, snorkelling, and photographs.

After meeting at Mgarr Harbour in Gozo or at Cirkewwa on Malta, you board the private boat and set out along the coast. The transfer to the first area is described as brief, which leaves most of the two-hour booking for the water and the photo stops. Still, you should think of this as a highlights outing, not a full-day cruise around three islands.

Your skipper can guide you toward Comino, Gozo, and parts of Malta, depending on the conditions and the route chosen for your booking. The exact order is not fixed. That flexibility is useful because wind can make one side of an island calmer than another.

For a couple, two hours may be enough for a few strong photo locations and a swim. For a family of six, the time will feel tighter. Getting everyone ready, into the water, dried off, and back on board takes a fair share of the clock.

Lovers Cave brings the most character

Lovers Cave is the setting that gives this experience its strongest identity. Instead of photographing only open sea and bright beaches, you get a cave interior, reflected light, and clear water framed by rock.

The skipper may take the boat inside or close to the cave when conditions permit. That matters because caves are affected by swell, wind, tides, and shallow passages. You should treat entry as weather-dependent rather than guaranteed.

For photographs, the cave offers several options. You can shoot from the boat toward the opening, take pictures of someone swimming near the entrance, or use the contrast between the darker rock and the turquoise water. If you bring a phone, use a waterproof case or keep it secured until the boat is still. The tour includes no professional photographer, so you or someone in your group will need to handle the camera.

The clear water is not only for pictures. You can swim and use the included mask and snorkel around suitable areas. The boat provides a cooler and canopy, which makes it easier to take a break between swims, though food and drinks are not included.

Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon for water time

Blue Lagoon is one of Comino’s best-known stops, and its bright water is the obvious draw. A private boat gives you a better chance to enjoy the area on your own schedule instead of following a large group’s fixed departure time.

That does not mean the lagoon will be empty. Blue Lagoon is a popular place, particularly during the main summer period. The advice to visit from April through June is practical for photography, since the beaches and water can feel less crowded before the busiest season. Sea conditions and the time of day still matter more than any simple calendar rule.

Crystal Lagoon offers another strong setting for swimming and underwater photographs. The water is described as clear enough for you to look for marine life below the surface, with coral and possible sightings of sea turtles mentioned as part of the photographic opportunity. These sightings are not promised, so book this for the scenery and water access rather than a guaranteed wildlife encounter.

If you want polished group portraits, ask for a quieter stop when you board. If you mainly want to swim, the skipper can help choose a spot suited to the day’s conditions. The value of a private charter is that your priorities can guide the short itinerary.

Popeye’s Cave and the Malta coast

Popeye’s Cave adds another recognizable location to the route. The cave and surrounding coast can frame photographs differently from Lovers Cave, giving you more variety in a short session.

The supplied route information also refers to coastlines around Malta and Gozo, including the south coast of Gozo. One family booking included several locations around Comino and southern Gozo, with the skipper taking the boat into a cave to show the clear water inside. That suggests the experience can work well for families who want a mix of sightseeing, photographs, and a brief swim.

Do not expect every named location on every booking. The skipper has the final say on routes and landing or disembarkation points. Windy conditions can change which caves are safe and which side of the islands offers the smoothest ride. One recent outing took place on a windy day, but the skipper drove steadily and adjusted the experience to the conditions.

That is an important point for anyone booking mainly for a particular photograph. You may get the best possible alternative rather than every named site. A sensible skipper who changes the route is more useful than one who follows a plan at the expense of safety.

What the boat provides, and what it does not

The boat includes comfortable seating, a sun deck, a canopy for shade, safety equipment, an ice cooler, free WiFi, and a Bluetooth speaker. These details matter on a small boat because comfort depends on having somewhere to sit, shade during the warmest part of the day, and room to keep your belongings organized.

Snorkelling equipment is limited to masks and snorkels. Bring your own fins or underwater camera if those are important to you, since they are not listed among the inclusions. Fishing equipment, a fishing cooler, barbecue supplies, food, drinks, and party items are also not included.

A professional photographer is not included either. The title may suggest a finished photo session, but the supplied details describe access to photo locations rather than a photographer taking and editing your pictures. Bring your own camera, phone, waterproof case, and any small accessories you need.

The onboard speaker and private format may appeal to a birthday group or a small family, but keep the setting in mind. This is a boat trip with swimming and photography, not a catered party cruise. A barbecue is available only as an extra arrangement, with its food and drinks also charged separately.

Choosing the best time for photographs

For portraits and clear water, early morning and late afternoon are the strongest choices. The light is softer than at midday, and the low sun can bring more shape to the cave walls and coastline.

Late afternoon may also give you sunset colors, depending on the time offered and the route that day. Ask about the available starting times before you book rather than assuming a sunset departure is possible.

April through June is suggested as a useful window before the main beach crowds arrive. You can still book this experience year-round, but the feel changes with the season. Summer offers long bright days and warm water, while the busiest areas may have more people around. Cooler months may bring different sea conditions and less predictable swimming comfort.

The booking is only two hours, so light direction should guide your choice. If your main goal is underwater color, strong midday light can help. If your goal is flattering portraits, cave photographs, or a sunset backdrop, look at the earliest and latest available times.

The price needs a careful look

The advertised price is $104 for the entire private boat, with up to six people. That can be good value for a small group, especially when compared with paying six separate fares for a shared cruise.

But the headline price does not cover everything. The professional skipper is listed separately at €49, and fuel consumption is also listed at €49. That means you should budget for at least those two added charges, making the base and listed extras roughly $104 plus €98, subject to the booking currency and final terms.

The boat also includes lagoon permits, port and marina fees, taxes, safety equipment, and snorkelling masks and snorkels. Those inclusions reduce the number of small costs you need to think about once you are on the water.

For two people, the total can feel less economical than for a group of four to six. For a private family outing or a small group sharing the cost, the value improves. The strongest reason to pay the premium is control: you are not tied to strangers, and you can ask for more time for photographs, swimming, or cave views within the two-hour limit.

Meeting points and timing details

Gozo departures meet in Mgarr, close to Sicilia Bella Restaurant in the Mgarr Harbour Terminal. Malta departures meet at Cirkewwa, close to the Cirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal.

You should arrive 30 minutes before departure. That buffer is especially important at a ferry terminal or harbour, where traffic and finding the right meeting point can eat into your time. Late arrival does not extend the charter, so arriving just before the scheduled start can cost you part of the cruise.

Pickup is included from the two designated departure areas, not from every hotel or town. Confirm which meeting point applies to your booking and allow time to reach it.

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and cash. A light cover-up can also make the ride more comfortable, though it is not specifically listed as required. Keep phones, wallets, and cameras protected from spray.

Who will enjoy this private charter most

I would choose this for a couple wanting photographs in unusual settings, a family that prefers a private boat, or a small group that wants to combine a scenic ride with a swim. It is also a sensible option if one person in your group cares about photography while others mainly want time in the water.

The two-hour format works best when you arrive with a simple plan. Choose two or three priorities, such as Lovers Cave, snorkelling, and sunset light. Trying to cover every named location, take formal portraits, swim, and explore several caves will make the trip feel rushed.

This is less suitable if you want a full-day island cruise, a guaranteed wildlife sighting, or a professional photo package. It is also not the right choice if you need a fixed route regardless of weather. The skipper can cancel, postpone, shorten, or change the route when sea conditions make that necessary.

The experience is available with live guidance in English or Maltese. The group remains private, and the skipper’s role is both practical and important. Recent outings were praised for steady handling in windy conditions, useful location suggestions, and a friendly, professional approach.

Should you book it?

Book this private charter if you value flexibility, cave photographs, and personal space more than a long list of stops. Lovers Cave, Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and Popeye’s Cave give you plenty to work with, but the best result comes from choosing your priorities before boarding.

For the strongest value, bring four to six people and check the skipper and fuel charges before you commit. Pick an early or late departure for better light, and aim for April through June if you want a quieter photographic setting.

Skip it if you need a photographer, catered food, fishing gear, or a guaranteed visit to every named location. For a compact private outing with clear water, snorkelling, and some of Comino and Gozo’s most photogenic coastal spots, it is a well-focused choice.

FAQ

How long is the boat charter?

The private charter lasts two hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers one private boat for up to six people.

Where does the boat leave from?

Gozo departures meet at Mgarr Harbour, near Sicilia Bella Restaurant. Malta departures meet at Cirkewwa, near the Cirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal.

Is a professional photographer included?

No. A professional photographer is not included, so you need to bring and operate your own camera or phone.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are included.

Are the skipper and fuel included in the advertised price?

No. The skipper is listed at €49, and fuel consumption is also listed at €49.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and cash. Arrive 30 minutes before departure to allow time for check-in and boarding.