Full Day Private Boat Charters Malta: Blue Lagoon, Comino & Gozo

Malta’s best water views come from the water. This private seven-hour charter links Comino and Gozo with swimming stops, sea caves, red-sand beaches, and time to enjoy the boat at your own pace. I especially like the access to smaller bays and the freedom to bring your own food and drinks, rather than being tied to a large boat’s fixed routine.

The price is $744.95 per group of up to 15, which can be good value for a full private boat day. Split among 15 people, that works out to about $50 per person. The main thing to consider is the schedule: nine stops are packed into roughly seven hours, so some visits are fairly short and the day is built around seeing many places rather than lingering at one beach.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for your group: You do not share the activity with other booking groups, and the boat has capacity for 22 passengers.
• Nine coastal stops: The route includes Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Hondoq Bay, San Blas Bay, Ramla Bay, San Niklaw Bay, and the Santa Marija Caves.
• Swimming gear is supplied: Life jackets, snorkeling equipment, and a stand-up paddle board are included.
• Bring your own refreshments: An ice box with ice is provided, but food and drinks are not included.
• The route can change: Poor weather may alter the plan, and the guide can also customize the route around the listed attractions.
• A strong choice for groups: Families and friends can share the fixed group price, use the sound system, and enjoy more privacy than on a large sightseeing boat.

Why a private boat changes the day

The biggest advantage here is control. A large boat can carry more people, but it also has to move more slowly and keep everyone on one timetable. This private charter gives your group its own space, with a sun-protected area, a bow sundeck, a toilet, a shower, and room for swimming gear.

That matters in Malta. The main attractions around Comino can become crowded, especially the Blue Lagoon. A private boat gives you a better chance to reach smaller bays and swimming areas that large boats may not use. It does not guarantee solitude, but it gives the captain more room to adapt the day.

I also like the practical setup. You can bring preferred food and drinks, keep them cold in the ice box, charge devices through the USB point, and play music through Bluetooth. These are small details, but they turn a boat trip into a proper day out rather than a short transfer between beaches.

The charter is offered in English, and confirmation is provided when you book. It is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed. You should still consider your group’s mobility and comfort around boarding, swimming, and moving around a boat.

Leaving Cirkewwa and reaching Comino

The trip begins at Cirkewwa, at the northern end of Malta. The first 20 minutes are used to leave the harbor and make for Comino. This opening section is less about a formal attraction and more about getting out onto the water and seeing the islands from a fresh angle.

You will want your camera ready as the coast opens up. The route quickly shifts from harbor scenery to open Mediterranean water, cliffs, and pale rock formations. Since the day includes many stops, I would use this first stretch to settle in, check the snorkeling equipment, and decide what you want to keep handy.

Bring your towel, sun cream, and swimwear where you can reach them. Swimwear, towels, and sun cream are not included, and changing after you are already aboard may be less convenient than arriving prepared.

Crystal Lagoon: 50 minutes for swimming and caves

Crystal Lagoon is one of the first major stops, with about 50 minutes set aside. The clear turquoise water makes this a natural place to swim and snorkel, while the surrounding rock offers caves and spots for cliff jumping.

The supplied snorkeling equipment and life jackets are useful here. You can choose a gentle swim, look below the surface, or use the stand-up paddle board if conditions allow. The stop is long enough for a proper swim, but not so long that you can take the whole morning at one cove.

Cliff jumping requires sensible judgment. The tour includes the chance to cliff dive, but you should only do so if you are comfortable and follow the guide’s instructions. Water conditions and safe jumping points can change.

Comino’s coast and the famous Blue Lagoon

A 30-minute coastal visit around Comino follows. This section is about the island’s caves, rock walls, and blue water rather than one particular beach. From the boat, you get a useful sense of why Comino is such a popular part of Malta’s coast.

The Blue Lagoon receives a full hour. It lies between Comino and Cominotto and is the signature stop of the day. The water is wonderfully clear, and swimming or snorkeling gives you a chance to see marine life below the surface.

This is also where expectations matter. The Blue Lagoon is famous for a reason, so it is not necessarily the quietest stop. A private boat improves your flexibility, but it cannot remove the popularity of the place. Still, arriving by private charter lets you enjoy the lagoon from the water and gives your group a comfortable base between swims.

I would treat the Blue Lagoon as the highlight, but not the only reason to book. The less celebrated bays and caves are a large part of the value, especially if you prefer variety over spending a whole day in one crowded swimming area.

Hondoq Bay and Halfa Rock in Gozo

The route then crosses to Gozo for about 45 minutes at Hondoq Bay, near the village of Qala. Halfa Rock is the main point of interest here, with natural scenery and a connection to the island’s long human past.

This stop gives the day a change of mood. Comino is known mainly for swimming and caves, while Hondoq Bay offers a Gozo setting with rocky shores and views toward the surrounding water. You can use the time to swim, look around, or simply enjoy a quieter pause on the boat.

Because the whole route is tightly timed, do not expect a long inland visit to Qala. This is a coastal stop, not a village tour. If your group would rather spend more time here, the private format makes it worth asking the guide about adjusting the schedule.

San Blas Bay and Gozo’s red-sand coast

San Blas Bay receives about an hour. Its golden-red sand and clear water make it one of the better stops for a relaxed beach break. The setting is described as peaceful, with views that feel more removed from the busiest parts of Malta.

I would use this hour differently from the Blue Lagoon. At San Blas, you can swim, sit on the beach, or let the group spread out a little. If you are traveling with children or with people who do not want to snorkel all day, a beach stop gives the schedule welcome variety.

Ramla Bay follows for 35 minutes. It is Gozo’s best-known red-sand beach and is also valued for its habitat and sand dunes. The stop is shorter, so you will have time to see the beach and enjoy the color of the sand, but perhaps not enough for a slow, extended beach afternoon.

The two Gozo beach stops work well together. San Blas gives you more time in the water, while Ramla Bay offers one of Gozo’s most recognizable coastal settings. If beaches are your main goal, you may find the schedule a little rushed. If you want a broad sample of the islands, the pace makes sense.

San Niklaw Bay: a quieter hour on Comino

The charter returns toward Comino for about an hour at San Niklaw Bay. This stop is presented as a more unspoiled part of the island, away from the main Blue Lagoon focus.

San Niklaw Bay may be the place where the private format feels most useful. You have time for another swim without treating the famous lagoon as the entire day. You can also use the boat’s shaded area, shower, toilet, or sound system between activities.

The water-based nature of this charter means you should be ready for repeated swimming stops. If you want to see many coves, that is a strength. If you prefer long walks, museums, or time ashore, this is not the right kind of Malta excursion.

Santa Marija Caves and Elephant Head Rock

The final major stop is the Santa Marija Caves, with about 45 minutes to explore the rugged coast around them. These caves are shaped by the sea and make a strong finish for anyone who enjoys photography, rock formations, and short swims in sheltered water.

The route also passes Elephant Head Rock, a well-known natural formation. It is the sort of detail that can be easy to miss from land but memorable from a boat, especially when the guide points it out.

The caves are not a formal museum or a guided historic site. Their appeal is natural: light, rock, water, and the unusual shapes carved into the cliffs. I would keep your phone or camera protected from spray and make sure you have enough battery, although the boat does provide USB charging.

After this stop, the boat returns to the harbor. Since the charter lasts approximately seven hours, the exact time at each location can shift with weather, sea conditions, and the group’s preferences.

What is included on the boat

The included equipment makes this easier to plan. You receive life jackets and safety equipment, snorkeling gear, and a stand-up paddle board. Fuel and port fees are also covered, so the advertised group price does not leave you calculating those costs later.

The onboard facilities are better than I would expect from a basic coastal transfer:

• Toilet and shower facilities
• Ice box with ice
• Bluetooth sound system
• USB charging point
• Sun-protected area
• Bow sundeck
• Snorkeling equipment
• Stand-up paddle board

You need to bring swimwear, towels, and sun cream. Food and drinks are not supplied, but you may bring what you prefer. That is useful for families, larger groups, and anyone with specific food needs.

I would pack light, practical items: a towel, sun protection, a dry bag or waterproof pouch, and food that is easy to handle aboard. The boat has an ice box, but the provided information does not specify how much storage is available, so avoid bringing more than your group can use comfortably.

Is $744.95 good value for up to 15 people?

The price makes the most sense when you fill much of the group allowance. At 15 people, the cost is about $50 per person for seven hours. At 10 people, it is about $74.50 each. For a couple or a small family, a private charter is a bigger expense, even though you are paying for privacy, equipment, fuel, port fees, and the boat itself.

You also avoid paying separately for snorkeling gear, a paddle board, fuel, and port charges. Being able to bring your own food can reduce the cost of a full day out, too.

The strongest value comes from the number of locations covered. You see both Comino and Gozo, with lagoons, caves, bays, beaches, and rock formations in one outing. The tradeoff is that the seven hours are divided among nine stops, so this is not a slow, stay-in-one-place cruise.

The activity has a 5 out of 5 rating from 18 ratings, with 100 percent recommending it. The most important praise is practical: a private boat can reach better swimming areas and smaller lagoons than larger vessels. That is the feature I would focus on when comparing options.

Who should book this charter?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families who want their own boat space
• Groups of friends splitting the fixed price
• Swimmers and snorkelers who want several water stops
• People who prefer a flexible private outing to a large group cruise
• Photographers interested in caves, rock formations, and coastal views
• Visitors who want to combine Comino and Gozo in one day

It is less suitable if you want a long inland visit, a formal cultural tour, or a quiet day with only one beach. It may also feel rushed for anyone who dislikes changing locations often.

Weather matters. If conditions are unsafe or unsuitable, the route will be adapted. If the entire trip is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Inside 24 hours, the payment is not refunded, and changes are not accepted.

Should you book Full Day Private Boat Charters Malta?

Book it if your ideal Malta day means clear water, several coves, and your own boat. The combination of Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Gozo’s red-sand beaches, San Niklaw Bay, and Santa Marija Caves gives you a broad look at the northern islands.

I would book this for a group large enough to share the $744.95 price. Before setting off, agree on your priorities: more swimming, more beach time, or more caves and coastal cruising. The private format lets you ask for changes, and that flexibility is the main reason to choose this over a larger boat.

FAQ

How long does the private boat charter last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

The group price covers up to 15 people. The boat has a stated capacity of 22 passengers.

Are snorkeling equipment and life jackets included?

Yes. Life jackets, safety equipment, snorkeling equipment, and a stand-up paddle board are included.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Yes. You can bring your preferred food and drinks. An ice box with ice is provided, but refreshments are not included in the price.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The itinerary may be adapted to protect the group and keep the day enjoyable. If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and the payment is not refunded.