Comino: Private Boat Trips, Swimming stops and Caves Tours

Clear water, quiet coves, and your own boat. This private Comino trip gives you a flexible way to see Malta’s most popular swimming spots without sharing a small excursion boat with strangers. I like the private skipper-led format and the freedom to bring your own food, drinks, and music. The main drawback is the price: $648 is strong value for a large group, but costly for only two or three people.

I also like the boat’s practical setup, especially the shaded rear deck, rooftop sun deck, toilet, freshwater shower, cooler, and easy bathing ladder. Skippers such as Angelo, Marvic, Fabio, and Frankie have been praised for friendly service and adapting plans when wind affects the sea. Just remember that the exact route depends on weather and the available time.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to 25 people: The fixed group price becomes much better value when shared among a family or large friend group.
• Crystal Lagoon gets 80 minutes: This is the main swimming and snorkelling stop, with time to look for marine life.
• Blue Lagoon allows up to 2.5 hours: You can swim, relax, have lunch, or stop for a cocktail, though this is also the busiest part of the route.
• The Lucky Lady is built for a full day on the water: You get shade, sun decks, a toilet, freshwater shower, cooler, Bluetooth stereo, and a low bathing platform.
• Gozo adds variety: Mgarr Harbour and Ħondoq Ir-Rummien Beach provide a break from the Comino swim stops.
• Weather flexibility matters: Strong winds can change the route or cancel the trip, but the company may reschedule or refund the deposit.

Why a private Comino boat makes sense

Comino is small, but its famous coves can feel crowded, especially around the Blue Lagoon. A private boat changes the rhythm of the day. Instead of following a fixed group around the coast, you can spend longer in the water, move on when the sun gets too strong, or ask the skipper to adjust the route.

That flexibility is the main reason to choose this outing. The skipper knows the coast and can guide you toward Crystal Lagoon, San Niklaw, Santa Marija Bay, and the Santa Maria Caves. Depending on time and sea conditions, the boat may also visit quieter parts of Gozo, including Qala Valley, Ramla Bay, Ghajn Barrani, Dahlet Qorrot, and San Blas Bay.

You are not paying only for transport. You are hiring the boat, skipper, and fuel for a private group. At the maximum capacity of 25, the price works out to about $26 per person. For eight people, it is about $81 per person. For a couple, the same fixed fee becomes hard to justify unless having a private boat is the central point of your day.

Starting from Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour

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

The company sends the exact meeting point through WhatsApp after booking. That is useful because ferry terminals can be busy and the boat may not be immediately obvious from the road or main entrance.

The service normally offers full-day trips from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and half-day trips from 9 a.m. to noon. You can also request an earlier or later start, subject to availability. The advertised duration is four to six hours, so confirm the exact timing when you book, especially if you have ferry connections or dinner plans.

The Lucky Lady boat and what it feels like onboard

The Lucky Lady carries a maximum of 25 passengers. It is a fairly spacious setup for a private charter, with seating around the boat, an inside cabin with a sofa, and a covered rear section for shade.

At the front, you have an open deck for sunbathing. There is also access to the rooftop deck, giving you another place to stretch out and watch the coast. On a hot Maltese day, the choice between sun and shade is not a minor detail. It can determine how comfortable you feel after several hours at sea.

The rear bathing platform is low and includes a climbing ladder. That makes getting in and out of the water much easier than scrambling over the side of a small boat. A freshwater shower lets you rinse away salt, and the onboard toilet is useful during a longer charter.

The boat also has a stereo with speakers. You can connect your phone by Bluetooth and play your own music. This works well for a birthday, family gathering, or relaxed group day, though I would keep the volume at a level that lets you hear the skipper and enjoy the natural sound of the sea.

Snorkel masks are provided for use throughout the trip. Life jackets for adults and children are also available if needed. Standup paddleboards cost extra and must be booked before departure, so do not wait until you arrive if your group wants to use them.

Crystal Lagoon: the best early water stop

The route usually begins with a short cruise toward Comino, followed by a photo stop near Saint Mary’s Tower. The tower gives you a recognizable Comino landmark before the boat moves toward Crystal Lagoon.

Crystal Lagoon is scheduled for about 80 minutes. That is enough time to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and look into the clear water for marine life without feeling rushed. I like this stop because it gives the day a proper start. You get into the water early, settle into the boat’s routine, and see why Comino is famous.

The name can create high expectations, but the real appeal is simple: clear water, rocky edges, and a pleasant place to swim from the boat. You should bring reef-safe sun protection, a hat, and a dry layer for the boat ride between stops. The open decks are excellent for sun, but several hours of direct exposure can catch you out.

Your skipper may change the order or length of the stop if wind makes one side of the island rough. That is a benefit of a private trip, though it means you should treat the published sequence as a guide rather than a promise.

Blue Lagoon: beautiful, popular, and worth timing carefully

The boat then allows up to 2.5 hours around the Blue Lagoon. This is the longest stop and the centrepiece for many groups. You can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, have lunch, or stop for a cocktail.

The Blue Lagoon is visually striking, but it is also the place most likely to feel busy. A private boat does not make the lagoon empty. It gives you a comfortable base on the water and avoids being tied to a large shared group, but you will still be visiting Comino’s best-known attraction.

If you want a quieter mood, ask the skipper how to use the time. Your group might spend part of the stop swimming and part of it moving toward a less crowded cove. The operator’s flexibility is one of the stronger reasons to book privately.

Food and drinks are not included. You can bring ready-to-eat food and drinks onboard, then store them in the cooler with complimentary ice. Alternatively, the skipper may suggest lunch at Mgarr Harbour, where you can choose from food outlets, kiosks, and restaurants. Bringing your own supplies saves time and lets you eat when you want, while stopping in Gozo gives you a wider choice of prepared food.

Gozo’s south coast adds a change of pace

A short sightseeing cruise leads to Mgarr Harbour, where you have about 30 minutes for a photo stop and visit. This is not a long town tour. Think of it as a chance to stretch your legs, pick up food, or enjoy a change from sitting on the boat.

From there, the route can continue to Ħondoq Ir-Rummien Beach. The stop is scheduled for around 30 minutes and is suitable for swimming, snorkelling, and looking for marine life. It gives the day a different setting from Comino’s lagoons and lets you see a small piece of Gozo’s coastline.

Depending on the charter plan, the skipper may take you farther along Gozo’s south coast. Qala Valley, Ramla Bay, Ghajn Barrani, Dahlet Qorrot, and San Blas Bay are among the possible areas named for exploration. You should not assume all of them will fit into a half-day outing. They are options for a longer charter, and weather, timing, and your group’s preferences will affect the final route.

This is where a private charter can feel more personal. If your group cares more about swimming than sightseeing, you can spend longer in the water. If you want photos and coastal views, you can ask for more cruising time.

Caves and the final cruise back

Santa Maria Caves comes near the end of the listed route, with about 10 minutes for a photo stop and a pass by the caves. This is a short visit, not a long shore excursion. You will see the formations from the boat and should have your camera ready before the skipper approaches.

The route then returns toward Cirkewwa or Mgarr Harbour. Allow some flexibility around the return time, since sea conditions can affect the pace. If you need to catch a ferry, tell the operator before departure rather than planning a tight connection.

How the crew handles changing weather

The Maltese coast can look calm from shore while conditions outside the harbour are less friendly. Strong winds have caused speedboat trips to be cancelled, and this service also remains subject to suitable weather.

The encouraging part is the company’s stated flexibility. If the weather prevents the trip, you can postpone it to another date, subject to availability, or cancel and receive the deposit back in full. One reshuffled outing included a new plan with swimming and caves when conditions allowed, rather than simply forcing the original route.

The crew has also been praised for prompt communication and for being accommodating when a group was delayed by traffic. Names connected with especially warm service include Angelo, Marvic, Fabio, and Frankie. One outing with Marvic included cave exploration, a snorkel visit to a shipwreck about 20 metres below the surface, and lunch in Gozo. Those details show what a good skipper may add, but they should not be treated as guaranteed features of every departure.

Price, group size, and overall value

At $648 per group of up to 25, this is a group purchase, not a cheap individual excursion. If you fill most of the boat, the price is attractive for a private day with skipper and fuel included. You also get snorkel masks, ice, the cooler, Bluetooth stereo, shower, toilet, and use of the boat’s decks without separate equipment charges.

The value drops quickly with a small party. Four people would pay about $162 each. Eight people would pay about $81 each. For a birthday, reunion, or family holiday, the privacy and flexible route may be worth it. For a couple, a shared boat trip will likely be more economical.

Remember to budget separately for food, drinks, and standup paddleboards. You can avoid restaurant prices by bringing your own provisions, and the cooler makes that practical. The boat’s capacity is 25, but a group of that size will naturally feel livelier and less spacious than a group of six or eight.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would choose this for families, groups of friends, birthday celebrations, and anyone who wants a relaxed day with control over the schedule. The shaded deck and onboard toilet help families, while the music system, sun decks, and bathing platform suit a social group.

It is also a good choice if your priorities are swimming and snorkelling rather than a formal sightseeing tour. You get several water stops, and the skipper can adjust the plan around conditions.

I would think twice if you dislike being in the sun, get uncomfortable on boats, or want a highly structured cultural tour. The focus here is the sea, coves, caves, and free time. Mgarr Harbour is only a short stop, and the coastal landmarks are viewed from the water.

Book this trip if you can share the cost with a solid-sized group and want a private base for swimming around Comino and Gozo. I would choose the full-day option for the broadest route, especially if you want Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Gozo, and caves without rushing. Choose the half-day version if your main goal is a few good swims and you prefer to keep the rest of the day open.

FAQ

Where can I board the boat?

You can board at Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal in Malta or Mgarr Harbour at Gozo Ferry Terminal. The exact waiting point is sent through WhatsApp after booking.

How long is the private boat trip?

The experience lasts four to six hours. Full-day trips normally run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., while half-day trips normally run from 9 a.m. to noon.

How many people can join?

The Lucky Lady has a maximum capacity of 25 passengers.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The price covers exclusive use of the boat for your private group, along with a local skipper and fuel.

Are food and drinks included?

No. You may bring ready-to-eat food and drinks onboard. A cooler box and complimentary ice are provided, or you may stop for food at Mgarr Harbour.

Are snorkel masks provided?

Yes. Snorkel masks are provided and can be used freely during the trip.

Is a standup paddleboard included?

No. Standup paddleboards are available for an additional charge and must be booked before the trip.

What facilities are on the boat?

The boat has shaded seating, open sun decks, a rooftop deck, an inside cabin with a sofa, a toilet, an outdoor freshwater shower, a stereo with Bluetooth, and a bathing platform with a climbing ladder.

What happens if the weather is bad?

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