Comino Private Boat Tour in Malta

Comino’s famous lagoons are best understood from the water, where the cliffs, caves, and changing shades of blue come together in one compact trip. This private outing gives your group a boat of its own and time to swim at the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, with short stops at Cominotto Reef and St. Mary’s Tower.

I like the small-group setup, which lets you avoid sharing every swim stop with a packed boat. I also like the useful onboard extras, including shade, snorkeling equipment, an ice cooler, comfortable seats, and a sun deck. The main concern is cost clarity and safety: the listed price does not include €40 for fuel or €40 for a professional skipper, and one person found the captain too relaxed about safety.

Key points to know before you book

• Four Comino sights in about one hour: The route covers Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto Reef, and St. Mary’s Tower.
• Private boat for up to five people: You pay the base rate per group, not per person, which can make the trip good value for a small party.
• Swimming time is built in: Blue Lagoon gets about 20 minutes, Crystal Lagoon about 20 minutes, and Cominotto Reef about 10 minutes.
• Snorkeling gear and shade are included: You also get comfortable seating, a cooler, WiFi, safety equipment, and a Bluetooth speaker.
• Budget for two extra charges: Fuel costs €40 and a professional skipper costs €40, neither of which is included in the advertised price.
• Safety deserves direct attention: Confirm who will operate the boat and what skipper service is included before you pay.

A private hour around Comino

This is a short boat outing with a clear purpose: see Comino’s best-known water spots without committing to a long cruise. The route is compact, but the scenery changes quickly. You move from the broad swimming area at Blue Lagoon to the quieter Crystal Lagoon, then to a reef, a cave area, and a historic watchtower.

The private format matters most if you are traveling as a group of two to five people. You are not tied to the pace of a large ferry, and the boat has seating areas, a canopy for shade, and a sun deck. Those features make the trip more comfortable than simply treating it as a transfer from one island to another.

The base price is $70.89 per group of up to five. On paper, that is attractive for a small group. Split five ways, the starting cost is modest. But you need to add the stated €40 fuel charge and €40 professional skipper charge. Ask for the complete total in advance, since those extras can change the value calculation.

The boat includes a cooler, but bottled water, soft drinks, food, and alcohol are not supplied. Bring what you need, within the operator’s rules. The onboard WiFi and Bluetooth speaker are pleasant extras, though the lagoons and swimming time are the real reason to come.

Blue Lagoon: Malta’s natural swimming pool

The first stop is Blue Lagoon, the best-known part of Comino and the place most people picture when they think of a boat trip in Malta. The water is exceptionally clear and shifts through several shades of blue. A sandy bottom gives parts of the lagoon a pool-like feel, while rocky cliffs frame the edges.

You get about 20 minutes here, with admission included. That is enough for a quick swim and a look around, but it is not a full beach day. If you want to linger, sunbathe, or swim at an unhurried pace, one hour for the entire route may feel tight.

The lagoon also carries a small piece of Maltese history. In the 1500s, the Knights of St. John used Comino for leisure and hunting hares and wild boars. That past is a sharp contrast to the famous swimming spot you see today. The island once felt remote and lightly used. Now, its clear water makes it one of Malta’s busiest attractions.

I would use this stop for a swim rather than expect a quiet historical visit. The practical advantage of a private boat is that your group can enjoy the water without sharing the whole vessel with a large crowd. Still, the lagoon itself is a popular place, so privacy on your boat does not mean solitude in the water.

Crystal Lagoon and the appeal of a short swim

Crystal Lagoon has a different feel from Blue Lagoon. It is sheltered, reachable only by boat, and framed by rock. The water shows several shades of blue, and the setting is especially suited to swimming and cliff jumping.

The scheduled time is about 20 minutes, giving it equal billing with Blue Lagoon. If you enjoy getting into the sea, this is likely the strongest part of the route. Snorkeling equipment is included, so you can look beneath the surface without renting gear separately.

Cliff jumping is mentioned as a major activity here, but you should make your own safety call. The tour includes safety equipment, yet the supplied information does not state the height of the jumps, the exact jumping points, or the conditions on the day. Check with the skipper before entering the water, and do not jump simply because other people are doing so.

The lagoon is also where the captain’s approach matters most. One person who took the trip felt the captain was too casual and did not inspire enough confidence. That is not a claim that every departure is unsafe, but it is a fair reason to clarify who operates the boat and what professional skipper service means before booking.

Cominotto Reef and its swim-through cave

Cominotto Reef sits across from Blue Lagoon and provides a smaller, more rugged stop. The rocky formation has a tiny patch of sand and a cave that can be swum through toward the open sea. That cave is the memorable detail here.

You get about 10 minutes, so this is a quick look rather than an extended beach stop. The area is best for a short swim, a view of the rock formations, and a chance to see how the sheltered lagoon connects with the outer water.

The small sandy area may appeal to you if you prefer natural, rocky settings to developed beaches. It also means you should expect limited space. This is not a place for spreading out with a towel, a large picnic, or a full afternoon of lounging.

The included snorkeling equipment is useful here, but the short stop calls for efficiency. Have your mask ready and listen carefully to the instructions before entering the water. As always, check the conditions around the cave first. The route description tells you that the cave can be swum through, but it does not provide details about tide, currents, or water depth.

St. Mary’s Tower and Comino’s defensive past

St. Mary’s Tower, also called Comino’s Tower, gives the trip a historic stop between the swimming locations. Grand Master de Wignacourt ordered its construction in 1618. It served as a defense and communication link between Mdina and the Citadel in Gozo.

The tower was built to watch for pirates and corsairs and to frighten them away. That makes it more than a scenic building beside the water. It helps explain why Comino mattered despite its small size and remote position.

The scheduled time is about 10 minutes. That is enough to take in the tower and its setting, but you should not expect a long museum visit or a full historical tour. The interior has no entrance charge, although donations are accepted. The information provided does not promise an extended guided explanation, so your visit may be mostly visual unless the skipper supplies extra context.

This stop is a useful counterpoint to the swimming stops. Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon are about color and water. St. Mary’s Tower shows the island’s strategic role. If you like mixing scenery with a small amount of history, the route does that well within a short time.

What the boat provides, and what you still need

The boat is fitted for a short recreational trip rather than a formal cruise with meals. You get several practical comforts:

• Canopy shade
• Comfortable seating areas
• A sun deck
• An ice cooler
• Snorkeling equipment
• Safety equipment
• WiFi
• A Bluetooth speaker
• Private transportation
• Port fees

The canopy matters in Malta’s strong sun. The shade gives you a place to sit between swims, while the sun deck suits you if you want to dry off or stretch out. The cooler is useful, but it does not come stocked with bottled water or soft drinks.

Food is not included. That means no breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, snacks, or alcohol. For a one-hour trip, this is not a serious drawback, but you should eat beforehand and bring water if permitted. Do not mistake the included cooler for a drinks package.

The private boat is the main comfort feature. A group of up to five can keep its own space, choose where to sit, and avoid the fixed atmosphere of a large shared vessel. The tradeoff is that a small operator may not offer the same level of formal structure as a larger ferry company.

Safety, skipper charges, and the question you should ask

The most important practical issue is the split between the base price and the added charges. Fuel is listed at €40, and a professional skipper is another €40. These are not minor details. Together, they add €80 before you consider drinks, food, or any other personal expenses.

Ask three direct questions before booking:

• Is the €40 skipper charge required?
• Who will operate the boat if you do not add a professional skipper?
• Is the complete total fixed before departure?

The supplied safety equipment is reassuring, but equipment alone does not settle the question of boat handling. One person felt the captain was too laid back and would have preferred the stronger safety structure of a larger ferry company. I would take that concern seriously if you are nervous on the water, traveling with children, or planning to jump from rocks.

A private boat is not automatically safer than a shared boat. Its advantage is control over your group’s space and schedule. A larger company may provide more standardized procedures and a more formal crew structure. Think about which benefit matters more to you.

How the one-hour schedule works

The advertised timing adds up to the full hour:

• Blue Lagoon: 20 minutes
• Crystal Lagoon: 20 minutes
• Cominotto Reef: 10 minutes
• St. Mary’s Tower: 10 minutes

That schedule is efficient, but it leaves little room for delays. Boarding, moving between sites, getting snorkeling gear ready, and entering the water all take real time. The listed stop lengths may not feel like uninterrupted swimming time.

I would plan to treat each stop as a sample. You get a quick taste of the main places rather than a relaxed day at sea. If your priority is seeing several sights in one outing, the pace works. If your priority is spending a long time at one lagoon, a longer charter would suit you better.

The short duration also makes this a manageable choice for people who do not want a full-day boat trip. You can see Comino’s major highlights without giving up an entire day in Malta or Gozo.

Who will get the most from this tour

This outing makes the most sense for a small group that wants a private boat and has limited time. Friends, couples, and families of up to five can share the base price and enjoy the simple route without paying separate per-person fares.

It also suits people who care more about swimming and scenery than onboard dining or a long historical explanation. The lagoons are the main attraction, while St. Mary’s Tower adds a short cultural stop.

You may want another option if you dislike unclear extra charges, expect a polished commercial operation, or feel uneasy with an informal captain. In that case, compare the final cost with a larger ferry or boat company and ask about its safety procedures before choosing.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. Most people can participate, and the meeting area is near public transportation, which helps if you are not using a private car.

Cancellation and booking advice

You receive confirmation at booking in most cases. If you book within two days of departure, confirmation can take up to 48 hours and remains subject to availability.

Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund. Inside that window, the amount paid is not refunded, and changes are not accepted.

Because the tour depends on good weather, check the forecast before your final cancellation deadline. That gives you time to cancel yourself if needed, while poor-weather cancellations by the operator come with the choice of a new date or a full refund.

Should you book the Comino private boat tour?

Book it if you are a group of up to five, want a quick look at Comino’s best swimming spots, and value having your own boat. The Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto Reef, and St. Mary’s Tower create a varied route, while the canopy, cooler, snorkeling gear, and comfortable seats add real practical value.

Before paying, confirm the full price with the €40 fuel charge and €40 professional skipper charge included. I would also ask who will run the boat and what safety procedures are in place. The route is appealing, but the skipper question should not be brushed aside.

For a short, private introduction to Comino, this is a reasonable choice. For the strongest possible safety structure or a slower pace, compare it with a larger operator or a longer charter.

FAQ

How long does the Comino private boat tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one hour. The planned stops are 20 minutes at Blue Lagoon, 20 minutes at Crystal Lagoon, 10 minutes at Cominotto Reef, and 10 minutes at St. Mary’s Tower.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers one private group of up to five people. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Use of snorkeling equipment is included, along with safety equipment, comfortable seating, a canopy for shade, a cooler, a sun deck, WiFi, and a Bluetooth speaker.

Are fuel and a professional skipper included in the price?

No. Fuel is listed at €40, and a professional skipper is listed at €40. Confirm the complete cost before booking.

What food and drinks are included?

No food or drinks are included. Breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, snacks, soda, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages are all excluded.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you receive a different date or a full refund.