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

Comino’s famous blue water looks best from a small boat, not from the crowded edge of the Blue Lagoon. This private trip takes you past sea caves, rocky coves, and Cominotto Island, with time to swim and snorkel at Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon. Mario and Joe are among the skippers named by guests, and both are praised for being punctual, friendly, and willing to adjust the experience.

I like the freedom of having a boat for only your group of up to six, especially if you want to play your own music, stop for photos, or avoid a full-day boat cruise. I also like the choice of a one-hour visit or a more relaxed two-hour route. The main catch is the pricing: the advertised $69 is per boat, but the skipper and fuel each add €39, and one hour can feel rushed if swimming matters to you.

Key points to know before booking

• Crystal Lagoon is the best swimming stop: Plan to use much of your time here if you want clear water, snorkelling, and a proper swim.
• The boat is private for up to six people: The price applies to the boat, not to each passenger.
• Mario and Joe receive especially warm praise: They are described as punctual, attentive, and good at explaining the coast.
• Two hours gives you breathing room: One hour covers the sights, but it leaves less time in the water.
• You can use the Bluetooth speaker: Several groups enjoyed playing their own music during the ride.
• The route depends on the sea: Your skipper may change stops or timing if weather, tides, or shallow water make it necessary.

Why a private boat is useful around Comino

Comino is small, but its best sights are scattered along a rough, rocky coast. From shore, you can reach the Blue Lagoon, but you cannot easily see the caves, rock arches, Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto, and quieter coves in one short visit.

A private boat fixes that. You can move between swimming spots without waiting for a large boat to load or unload. You also get a skipper who can bring the boat close to the coast where conditions allow, point out caves, and choose a safer place to stop if the water is rough.

I see this as a sightseeing trip with swimming, rather than a pure boat ride. The route includes photo stops and scenic passes, but the real value comes from time in the water. If you only want to see Comino from the boat, one hour can work. If you want to swim, snorkel, take photos, and hear about the area, book two hours.

The boat carries up to six people, so the arithmetic can be good for a family or small group. Remember to add the €39 skipper charge and €39 fuel charge to the advertised $69 price. Since the basic rate is per boat, six people can make the cost more reasonable than six individual places on a larger excursion. For two people, the total is less of a bargain, though the privacy and flexible timing may still be worth it.

Starting at Mġarr or Ċirkewwa

You can meet the boat at either of two places. In Gozo, the departure area is at Mġarr Harbour, near Sicilia Bella Restaurant in the Mġarr Harbour Terminal. In Malta, meet near Ċirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal.

Arrive 30 minutes early. That matters here because the boat will not extend your charter if you arrive late. Traffic, the ferry terminal, and finding the exact meeting point can all take longer than expected, so I would not cut this close.

The route begins with speedboat travel, including a roughly 10-minute section and another listed as about 20 minutes. These stretches get you out toward Comino and provide open-water views, but they are also time spent moving rather than swimming. That is another reason I favor the two-hour option.

The boat includes seating, a sundeck with a canopy, safety equipment, a cooler, Wi-Fi, and a Bluetooth speaker. Snorkel masks and snorkels are provided. Food, drinks, fishing gear, and fuel are not included, so bring water and something to eat if you need it.

Crystal Lagoon: the main water stop

Crystal Lagoon is one of the strongest parts of the route. The boat stops for about 20 minutes, giving you time for photos, swimming, snorkelling, and a look at marine life.

The water is the reason to come. The clear blue setting makes this a good place to test a snorkel mask, even if you are new to snorkelling. One first-time snorkeller described the experience as a holiday highlight, with the skipper pointing things out in the water and helping make the first attempt comfortable.

Twenty minutes passes quickly. If you want a long swim, you will need to make that clear to the skipper at the start, and you may have to accept fewer photo stops. The itinerary is private, but the clock still matters.

Families should pay attention to the safety support. Safety equipment is supplied, and one family described the skipper reassuring children who were uneasy on the water. That does not replace careful supervision, especially around rocky coves and open water, but it is useful to have a skipper who pays attention to how confident everyone feels.

Bring your own towel, swimwear, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The canopy helps, but you will still spend much of the trip in direct sun.

Caves, Cominotto, and the rocky coast

After Crystal Lagoon, the boat passes a scenic viewpoint and several coastal features. You may see the Roofless Cave, also called L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf, Lovers Cave, Pigeon Rock, Daħlet il-Ħmara, and other caves along the shore.

These stops are mostly about seeing the coast from the water and taking photos. The skipper may bring the boat close to a cave when conditions permit. One family particularly appreciated the effort to enter a cave as far as it was safe to do so, but you should expect the sea and the boat’s size to determine what is possible.

Cominotto Island is another short sightseeing stop. It sits close to Comino and helps show how tightly packed the islands and channels are in this part of Malta. The boat may pass by for views rather than making a long landing stop, so do not book this expecting a beach visit at every point on the route.

This is where a private charter earns its keep. On a large boat, you see the same rocks with many other people around you. On this trip, you can ask the skipper to pause for a better photograph or explain a feature that catches your eye. The level of commentary depends on the skipper and your questions, but Mario and Joe are frequently praised for sharing information about the coast.

A small detail adds to the fun: the Bluetooth speaker lets you set the mood with your own music. Keep the volume sensible, since the natural sound of the sea and the skipper’s explanations are part of the experience.

Blue Lagoon without making it your whole day

The Blue Lagoon is the headline stop, but this boat does not treat it as the only attraction. The planned break is about 20 minutes, with time for photos, swimming, snorkelling, and views.

The water can look extraordinarily blue on a clear day. It is also the place most likely to feel busy, especially during popular daytime hours. A private boat helps you avoid being tied to the schedule and deck space of a crowded tour boat, but it cannot remove other boats or people from the lagoon.

Early timing can help. One group booked 9 a.m. and found it a good way to reach the lagoon before the busiest part of the day. That is practical advice if you care about photos or want a calmer swim. Ask about the earliest available departure when you book, but remember that the skipper can adjust the time for sea conditions and operational needs.

The Blue Lagoon stop works best when you treat it as one part of the route. You get the famous water, then the less obvious caves and coves nearby. If you only want to stand at the Blue Lagoon and take pictures, a shore visit may be enough. If you want to swim there and see the coastline from a boat, this private option makes more sense.

One hour or two hours?

The one-hour charter is suitable for a quick introduction. You can pass the main sights, stop at the lagoons, and take a few photos. One person who booked an hour found it enough to see the attractions, while another said an hour was too short. Both views make sense.

The difference comes down to your priorities. A one-hour trip suits you if:

• You mainly want photos from the water.
• You have a tight schedule.
• You are not planning a long swim.
• You want a short family outing.

Choose two hours if:

• Swimming and snorkelling are central to your plans.
• You want both Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon without constant clock-watching.
• You want time for caves and photo pauses.
• You are travelling with children or less confident swimmers.
• You want a slower, less hurried boat ride.

I would choose two hours for most people. The extra time turns a fast circuit into a real outing, and one family found two hours to be just right. You can still keep moving if the weather changes, but you have enough time to stop when the water looks inviting.

Skippers, service, and the human side

The skipper can make or break a small private charter. Mario receives repeated praise for being on time, professional, warm, and passionate about the area. Joe is also singled out for his friendly manner, good local explanations, and help with photos. Marko operated a memorable evening trip for one group, including a night cruise under the stars.

Those names are useful when you receive your confirmation, since the exact skipper may vary. The common thread is personal attention: taking pictures, helping with route decisions, explaining the coast, and making less confident swimmers feel safer.

There is one caution. One group felt the experience suffered because the skipper spent much of the trip on the phone. That appears to be an isolated complaint among otherwise very positive feedback, but it is worth knowing that a private trip gives you more direct contact with your skipper, for better or worse.

Fishing equipment is not included, though one skipper allowed a passenger to fish on the return ride. Treat that as a personal accommodation, not as a guaranteed feature. The advertised inclusions cover snorkelling, not fishing.

What the boat provides, and what you should bring

The setup is simple and practical:

• Private boat seating for your group
• Sundeck with a canopy
• Safety equipment
• Mask and snorkel
• Ice cooler
• Bluetooth speaker
• Wi-Fi

Pack a towel, swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, and cash. Bring drinks and food because they are not included. A cooler is available, but the supplied information does not say that refreshments are provided.

The canopy is useful for shade during the ride, though you should still apply sunscreen. The sundeck gives you a place to stretch out between stops, and the speaker is a nice bonus for families or friends who want their own soundtrack.

The boat is not described as wheelchair accessible, and no specific accessibility details are provided. If mobility assistance is important to you, contact the provider before booking and ask about boarding and movement on the boat.

Weather, timing, and route changes

The skipper has the final say if weather or sea conditions make the trip unsafe. The route, departure point, timing, or disembarkation point may change because of waves, tides, shallow water, or other valid operating concerns.

That flexibility is sensible around Comino. A cave that is easy to reach in calm water may not be suitable when the sea is rough. A lagoon may also be less comfortable for swimming if conditions shift. You should see route changes as part of a boat trip, not as a promise broken.

The same rule applies to late arrival. Get there 30 minutes early, especially if you are coming from another part of Malta or arriving by ferry. Your booked time will not be extended if you miss part of it.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the current availability and starting times when booking, since the listed duration is one to two hours.

Who will enjoy this charter most?

I would recommend it to families, couples, and small groups of friends who want control over the pace. It is especially useful if you want to combine sightseeing with a swim but do not want to spend an entire day on a large boat.

It also suits people who are trying snorkelling for the first time. You have equipment on board, and the skipper can point out things in the water. Still, you should be comfortable following safety instructions and supervising children yourself.

This is less suitable if you want a full-day beach outing, a catered cruise, or guaranteed fishing. Food and drinks are not included, and the trip is short. It is also not the right choice if you dislike speedboat travel or want a completely fixed route.

Should you book the Comino private boat tour?

Book it if your ideal Comino visit includes clear water, short boat rides, sea caves, personal space, and the freedom to choose how long you swim. The strongest reasons are the private group format, the useful two-hour option, and the chance to see more than just the Blue Lagoon.

Before paying, calculate the full cost. Add the €39 skipper fee and €39 fuel fee to the advertised $69 boat price, then divide the total among your group. For six people, that can be sensible. For one or two, the privacy is the main benefit rather than the lowest price.

My practical choice would be a two-hour morning departure, with Crystal Lagoon as the main swim and Blue Lagoon as the second water stop. Arrive early, bring your own drinks, and tell the skipper whether swimming, caves, photos, or music matter most. If that sounds like your kind of morning on Malta, this is a strong way to see Comino without surrendering your day to a large group cruise.

FAQ

How many people can join the private boat?

The charter is for a private group of up to six people. The price applies per boat, not per passenger.

How long does the boat tour last?

You can choose a one-hour or two-hour charter, subject to available starting times.

Where does the boat depart?

You can depart from Mġarr Harbour in Gozo or Ċirkewwa in Malta. The Gozo meeting area is near Sicilia Bella Restaurant, while the Malta meeting area is near Ċirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal.

Does the tour visit the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon?

Yes. The route includes both Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, along with Cominotto, viewpoints, caves, and coastal sights around Comino.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are included, along with safety equipment.

Are food, drinks, and fuel included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. Fuel costs €39, and the skipper costs €39 in addition to the advertised boat price.

Can the skipper change the route?

Yes. The skipper may change the route, timing, departure point, or stops because of weather, tides, shallow water, sea conditions, or other valid operating reasons.