Malta: Comino, Blue lagoon Private Speed Boat Tour

The sea is the real star here. This private speedboat trip takes you around Comino, past Gozo, into sea caves, and to clear swimming spots that are hard to reach from land. I like the freedom of having your own boat and skipper, and I like that the route can bend around your group’s wishes rather than following a rigid schedule.

Atef, Agus, James, Keith, and other skippers have earned praise for their good humor, local stories, careful handling, and willingness to adjust swim stops. The main catch is that the fuel costs an additional €79, and the two-hour option can feel short if you want plenty of time for swimming and sightseeing.

Key points to know before booking

• A private boat for up to nine people: The price is per group, so this can offer good value for families and groups of friends.
• Blue Lagoon without being stuck on shore: You can enjoy the famous water from the boat, where the crowded landing area is less of an issue.
• Several swim and snorkel stops: Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Ħalfa Rock, and Santa Maria Bay are built into the route.
• Caves are part of the show: Santa Maria Cave, the Crystal Lagoon Tunnel, Popeye’s Cave, Lovers Cave, and other formations add variety beyond swimming.
• The skipper shapes the day: You can ask to stay longer at a favorite spot or shorten a stop to see more coastline.
• Bring your own refreshments: A cooler, fresh water shower, shade, Bluetooth music, and space for food are provided, but food and drinks are not included.

Why a private boat works well around Comino

Comino is small, but its best sights are scattered around the coast. A public boat can get you to the Blue Lagoon, but it gives you less control over where you stop and how long you stay. This private trip lets you see several bays and caves in one outing, with the boat waiting nearby while you swim.

That flexibility is the biggest reason to book this experience. If the water is choppy at one location, the skipper can look for a calmer place. One family found exactly that when the sea was rough, and the skipper found a safer snorkeling spot instead. That kind of judgment matters more than a fixed list of stops.

The boat carries up to nine people. That makes it especially practical for a family, a group of friends, or a couple celebrating something special. Split the $187 group price among several people and the base cost becomes attractive, though you still need to add the €79 fuel charge. The total price is worth calculating before you book.

The boat has shade, a fresh water shower, a cooler for your supplies, and Bluetooth music. You can bring your own lunch, drinks, and playlist. Some groups enjoyed eating aboard while anchored near the Blue Lagoon, which is much more pleasant than trying to find a place to sit on the busy shore.

Finding the boat at Cirkewwa

The main meeting point is the jetty at Cirkewwa in northern Malta. Look behind the only kiosk in the area, the one with umbrellas and tables. That detail is useful because Cirkewwa is a transport area with several piers and ferry movements, and you do not want to spend your departure time wandering around.

Departure can also be arranged from Mgarr in Gozo. Confirm your preferred starting point when booking. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, though they can be organized separately.

Communication before departure has been praised as clear and helpful. Still, I would confirm the meeting point, departure time, group size, and fuel payment method in advance. One group said it would have been helpful to know that the fuel could be paid by card, so do not assume cash is your only option or that card payment is guaranteed.

Crystal Lagoon: the first major stop

After roughly ten minutes on the speedboat, you reach the Crystal Lagoon area. The planned stop is about 40 minutes, giving you time for photos, swimming, and snorkeling.

The appeal here is the setting. The water is clear, the rocks frame the boat nicely, and the stop gives you an early chance to get in the sea before moving on to the more famous Blue Lagoon. If you enjoy snorkeling, this is one of the places where you can look for marine life in the shallows.

Bring your own towel and swimwear, and use sunscreen before boarding. The boat has a fresh water shower, which is useful after swimming in salt water, but you should not treat the boat like a full beach facility. Food, drinks, and beach equipment are not included.

The water can look deceptively shallow because it is so clear. One family noted that it was deeper than it appeared, so take care when jumping from the boat and follow the skipper’s instructions. This is not a good choice for a non-swimmer who wants to be fully independent in the water.

Blue Lagoon without the usual fuss

The Blue Lagoon receives about 40 minutes on the longer route. You can stop for photographs, swim, snorkel, or take a break. This is the sight most people have in mind when they picture Comino, with strikingly clear water and pale rock around the inlet.

The private boat changes the experience in a useful way. You do not need to spend the whole visit squeezed into the limited space around the landing area. You can swim from the boat and return to your own shaded space. If you want to get off the boat at the Blue Lagoon, you must arrange a free ticket through blcomino.com. Tickets are required from May 2025, but there is no charge.

That rule is easy to miss, so handle it before the day of your trip. If you are happy swimming from the boat, the landing ticket may not matter to your plans. If you want to walk ashore, take photographs from land, or spend time at the lagoon’s edge, arrange it in advance.

The Blue Lagoon can be the busiest part of the outing. The boat gives you a better escape from the crowds, but do not expect the area to feel secret or empty in the middle of the warm season.

Ħalfa Rock and the northern coast

A short five-minute boat ride brings you to Ħalfa Rock, with around 40 minutes for another break, photos, swimming, and snorkeling. This stop is useful because it adds a different setting after the Blue Lagoon. You get more time on the water rather than spending the whole tour moving from one famous photo point to another.

The skipper can help decide how much time to spend here. Some groups want long swims at every stop. Others prefer to cut a swim short and see more caves and coastline. The private format makes either approach possible, although the two-hour option will require sharper choices.

If your group includes children, the skipper’s role becomes important. Families praised the calm handling of the boat and the effort to find safe, sheltered water when conditions changed. You should still keep a close eye on children around the boat and in the sea.

Gozo, Santa Maria Bay, and the cave circuit

The route then passes Gozo for a short visit and photo stop before continuing to Santa Maria Bay. The bay receives about ten minutes on the listed route, so treat it as a brief pause rather than a long beach visit.

Santa Maria Bay is followed by Għemieri Window, a coastal formation that takes about five minutes to see, and Santa Maria Caves, with around ten minutes for photographs and a closer look. These stops give the trip its sense of discovery. The tour is not just a ride to one swimming hole. It is also a look at the rough coastline, openings in the rock, and places that are difficult to appreciate from a road.

The named cave stops include Santa Maria Cave, the Crystal Lagoon Tunnel, Popeye’s Cave, and Lovers Cave. The exact amount of time at each can depend on sea conditions and your chosen tour length. Ask the skipper to point out the formations as you pass, since some are easiest to understand from the water.

The cave section also gives you a break from the sun. You will be moving through open water for much of the trip, so shade and sunscreen matter. A hat or sunglasses with a secure strap would be sensible, especially on the speedboat.

Elephant Rock and the ride back

Elephant Rock is another short stop, planned for about five minutes. It is primarily a photo break, a chance to see one of Comino’s most recognizable rock shapes before the boat turns back.

The return ride takes about ten minutes. On a calm day, the speedboat makes the journey feel quick and lively. If the sea is choppy, the ride may feel less comfortable, especially for anyone prone to seasickness. The operator specifically warns that the tour is not suitable for people who get seasick easily.

If that sounds like you, take your usual motion sickness medicine before departure and choose the calmest available day, but understand that the activity may still not suit you. The skipper can adjust the route for conditions, yet no boat can remove all movement from open water.

Two hours or three?

The two-hour option is best if you want a compact look at Comino. You can see the Blue Lagoon, several coastal sights, and enjoy a few swims without giving up most of your day. One group found two hours enough for three swim locations, the caves, and the main highlights.

The drawback is simple: two hours moves quickly. You will need to accept shorter stops, and you may not have time to linger at every cave, bay, and viewpoint. A family who wants a relaxed pace, or a group that plans to eat aboard, should choose three hours if available.

The three-hour option gives you room to swim, take photographs, listen to music, and let the skipper tailor the route. It is also the better choice if your group has mixed priorities. Swimmers can enjoy the water while others remain on the boat and take in the coast.

Several people later wished they had chosen the longer trip. That is a useful clue. The two-hour tour is not poor value, but the scenery and swim stops can make the time pass fast.

The skippers make the difference

The strongest part of this experience is the crew. Atef is repeatedly praised for his friendly manner, local stories, safe handling, and ability to make families and couples feel at ease. Agus is also noted for being accommodating, taking photographs, adjusting the timing, and showing the caves and landmarks clearly.

James has been praised for clear communication and local information, while Keith received warm feedback for explaining Comino, Gozo, and Malta with humor. Michelle and other crew members have also been described as kind and helpful.

Names may depend on the date you book, so you cannot assume a particular skipper will be available. What you can reasonably expect is a personal style rather than a formal lecture. The best guides explain what you are seeing, then give you space to swim, listen to music, or simply sit quietly.

That balance is important. A boat tour can become tiring if the guide talks without pause. Here, the strongest feedback points to skippers who share stories when useful and let you enjoy the scenery when you prefer.

What to bring and what to expect aboard

Pack lightly, but bring the basics:

• Swimsuit and towel
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Comfortable beachwear
• Camera
• Food and drinks for the cooler

The boat provides a fresh water shower, shade, music, and a cooler. Snorkeling equipment and float noodles were available for some groups, but the formal details only promise snorkeling opportunities, so confirm equipment availability if you do not have your own mask.

Pets are not allowed. The tour is suitable for families, couples, and groups of friends, but non-swimmers and people prone to seasickness should think carefully before booking.

You are not paying for a full catered cruise. Food and drinks are extra, and you need to bring or arrange them yourself. That is not a major flaw for most groups, since you can choose exactly what to eat and drink, but it is worth knowing before you arrive at the jetty empty-handed.

Is the $187 group price good value?

At $187 per group of up to nine, the base price can be very fair when shared among several people. Four people, for example, would pay far less per person than a private boat booked by a couple. Two people will pay more per head, but they still receive a private boat and a skipper rather than joining a large shared group.

Then add the €79 fuel charge. That extra cost changes the calculation, especially for a couple. Food, drinks, and hotel transfers are also separate. I would compare the full cost, not just the advertised base rate.

The value comes from control. You can choose how long to swim, play your own music, bring your own lunch, and move away from the busiest part of the Blue Lagoon. If you want a cheap ride with no extras, a shared boat may cost less. If you value privacy and flexibility, this tour earns its price more easily.

Should you book it?

Book this private speedboat tour if you want to see several Comino sights in a short window, prefer your own group, and like the idea of swimming from the boat rather than sitting on a crowded shore. It is especially well suited to families, friend groups, couples, and anyone marking a special occasion.

Choose three hours if you can. The two-hour trip works for a quick overview, but the longer option gives you time to enjoy the water instead of watching the clock. Confirm the €79 fuel charge, payment method, departure point, and free Blue Lagoon landing ticket before you go.

Skip it if you are prone to seasickness, do not swim, or want a quiet land-based beach day. For everyone else, this is a practical and enjoyable way to see Comino’s coast, with the skipper’s local knowledge and flexible timing doing much of the heavy lifting.

FAQ

How long is the private Comino speedboat tour?

You can choose a two-hour or three-hour private tour, depending on availability and the option selected.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private group can include up to nine people.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes the private speedboat, skipper, visits to the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, cave exploration, and chances to swim and snorkel.

Is fuel included?

No. Fuel costs €79, paid to the skipper.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but you can bring your own supplies for the onboard cooler.

Where does the tour leave from?

The main meeting point is the jetty at Cirkewwa, Malta, behind the only kiosk with umbrellas and tables. Departure can also be arranged from Mgarr in Gozo.

Do I need a ticket to get off the boat at the Blue Lagoon?

Yes. If you want to get off the boat at the Blue Lagoon, you must book a free ticket at blcomino.com. Tickets are required from May 2025 and cost nothing.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, beachwear, and a camera. You may also want to bring food and drinks for the cooler.