Malta Gozo Comino: Half Day Sailing Charter

Clear water, quiet coves, and your own boat. This private four-hour sailing charter gives you a relaxed way to see Gozo and Comino from the sea, with time for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding. I especially like the flexible pace and the chance to bring food for the onboard BBQ. The main consideration is that four hours passes quickly, especially if your group wants several swim stops.

The 14-meter sailboat has cabins, shaded and sunny areas, a hammock, drinks, snacks, and water toys. Captain Peter receives especially warm praise for his friendly manner, clear communication, local knowledge, and easygoing approach. If you want a packed sightseeing cruise with a fixed schedule, this may feel too loose. If you want a private boat day shaped around your group, it makes a lot of sense.

Key things to know before you book

• Private boat for up to 11 people: The $559 price covers the group, not each person, so the value improves sharply when you fill most of the available places.
• Two possible departure points: You leave from Marfa Jetty in Malta or Mgarr Harbour in Gozo, based on where you are staying.
• Flexible swim stops: Your group can decide how long to remain at the coves and swimming spots rather than follow a rigid timetable.
• Bring food for the BBQ: Meat and other food can be brought aboard and grilled by the skipper, while snacks, water, soft drinks, and Prosecco are supplied.
• Good water equipment: Snorkeling gear, a paddle board, and a kayak are included, so you can switch between quiet swimming and active play.
• Captain Peter sets a friendly tone: He has been praised for music, local stories, advance communication, and making the outing feel personal.

Setting sail from Marfa Jetty or Mgarr Harbour

Your starting point depends on where you are staying. The charter can leave from Marfa Jetty on Malta or Mgarr Harbour on Gozo, which is useful if you are building the boat trip into a wider island stay.

That flexibility also means you should confirm the exact meeting point before the day. Marfa Jetty and Mgarr Harbour are not interchangeable in practical terms, so do not simply arrive at the first port you recognize. The operator decides the departure location with your accommodation area in mind.

The sailing time is four hours. That is long enough for a proper outing on the water, but not long enough to visit every attractive bay around Gozo and Comino. I would treat this as a focused private cruise with several water stops, not as a full-day coastal survey.

The skipper handles the boat, fuel, and port fees. You can settle into the deck, watch the shoreline, and let the route develop around the conditions and your group’s interests. Since this is a private charter, you are not sharing the timetable with a large busload of people or waiting for strangers to finish swimming.

The 14-meter sailboat and life onboard

The boat is a well-equipped 14-meter sailboat, with three cabins available for relaxing and resting. One booking described it as a 47-foot Beneteau, so you can expect a sizable sailing yacht rather than a small open motorboat.

That difference matters. A sailboat gives you room to spread out, change position, and take a break from the sun. You can sit in a shaded area, find a sunny place for the views, or stretch out in the hammock when the boat is anchored.

The cabins are useful if you want a quiet pause, though the main appeal is the open deck and the sea around you. This is not a yacht with a formal crew or luxury dining service. It is a comfortable private boat where the skipper, equipment, and relaxed atmosphere do most of the work.

Music may be played onboard, and Captain Peter has received praise for choosing a pleasant soundtrack without losing the calm feel of the trip. You will want to agree on music preferences early if your group has strong opinions. Private charters are at their best when everyone speaks up about what sounds good.

Cruising along Gozo and Comino

After leaving port, the boat heads toward attractive sections of the Gozo and Comino coastline. The route includes secluded bays, clear lagoons, private coves, coastal cliffs, caves, and places where you can stop for a swim.

The exact sequence is not fixed in the information provided, and that is part of the appeal. Captain Peter can shape the outing around your preferred pace, with multiple stops rather than one long anchor period. You may spend more time in a cove if the water activities are going well, or move on when your group is ready for another view.

The high cliffs are one of the visual highlights. From the deck, you see Malta’s rocky coast from a far better angle than from shore. The boat also lets you reach coastal spots that are not easily reached on foot, giving you a quieter sense of the islands.

I would keep expectations sensible. This is not a narrated coastal tour with a published stop-by-stop program. The focus is on sailing, swimming, and enjoying the boat. Captain Peter can share information about Malta and Gozo, including local history, but the stories are part of the relaxed experience rather than a formal lecture.

Swim stops, snorkeling, and clear water

The best part of the charter is the freedom to get into the water whenever the boat is anchored. You can swim, use the snorkeling equipment, paddle board, or take the kayak out for a short paddle.

The supplied snorkeling gear is especially useful because you do not need to organize a separate rental. The clear water can reveal fish and other marine life, although visibility and sea conditions can change. I would bring a sense of curiosity rather than expect a full reef expedition.

The paddle board and kayak give you two different ways to enjoy the coves. The paddle board suits you if you want to stand above the water and look back at the boat and cliffs. The kayak offers a lower, steadier position and can be a pleasant choice for exploring close to the shore, where permitted by the skipper.

You control the pace. One of the strongest features of this outing is that you are not rushed out of the water after a short timed stop. If your group wants to swim for most of the time, you can make that the center of the day. If some people prefer to stay onboard, the sailboat has room for them to rest and watch.

The drawback is simple: a group with very different energy levels may need to compromise. One person may want to snorkel, another may want the hammock, and someone else may be eager to paddle. The private format helps, but four hours still requires a little planning.

A BBQ lunch without a formal catering package

The BBQ is a practical and unusual bonus. You bring the food, and the skipper can grill it onboard. Several bookings singled out this arrangement as a major pleasure, especially for groups bringing meat for a relaxed meal at sea.

This setup gives you more control than a fixed menu. You can bring the food your family or friends actually want, rather than accept a meal chosen for everyone. It also keeps the cost clearer, since the charter includes the grill but not a full catered lunch.

You should organize the food before reaching the boat. Bring items that are easy to store, prepare, and grill, along with any extras your group needs. The included provisions are water, soft drinks, snacks, and Prosecco, but the supplied details do not promise a full meal or specialized dietary products.

The BBQ works best as part of the outing rather than as a long restaurant-style lunch. You can eat between swims, enjoy a drink on deck, and return to the water without losing the feeling of a boat day. Ask about the practical setup when confirming your trip, particularly if your group has a large amount of food.

What Captain Peter adds to the day

Captain Peter is the human center of this charter. He has been praised for contacting people before departure to confirm details, which is exactly the sort of small service that reduces port-day confusion.

His style appears friendly and flexible. You can expect help with the route, the equipment, and the general rhythm of the trip. He has also been praised for sharing facts about Malta and Gozo, so you receive some useful context while cruising rather than simply being left to guess what you are seeing.

That personal approach is valuable on a private charter. The experience can feel more like a day out with a capable local host than a standard boat transfer. Captain Noah has also been praised alongside Peter as an excellent host, so the crew may include more than one friendly face depending on the departure.

Still, the quality of a private boat day depends partly on communication. Tell the skipper if your group prefers more swimming, more sailing, more music, more quiet, or more local information. The flexible format rewards clear requests.

Is $559 good value for a private group?

The listed price is $559 for up to 11 people. If 11 people share the cost, that works out to about $51 per person. For six people, it is roughly $93 each. For four people, it is about $140 each.

That makes the charter most attractive for a family group, a group of friends, or two smaller groups traveling together. The price includes the four-hour trip, skipper, fuel, port fees, water, soft drinks, snacks, Prosecco, snorkeling equipment, kayak, and paddle board. You also receive use of a private sailboat and the onboard BBQ.

A smaller group still gets privacy, but the per-person cost rises quickly. At that point, compare the price with your priorities. If you mainly want a short boat ride and one swim, a shared cruise may cost less. If you value choosing your stops, bringing your own food, and keeping the boat to yourselves, the private charter earns its price.

The inclusion of fuel and port fees is helpful because those costs do not appear as surprises at the end. The same goes for the equipment. You are paying for an all-in boat experience, with food and drinks partly supplied, rather than only paying for transport across the water.

Who will enjoy this sailing charter most?

I would recommend it to you if your ideal day includes a few good swim stops, clear water, a comfortable boat, and no interest in following a strict group schedule.

It is particularly well suited to:

• Families who want both water play and room to rest
• Friends who want a private setting with music and a BBQ
• Snorkelers who prefer several short opportunities instead of one formal session
• Couples or small groups willing to pay more for privacy
• Anyone who wants to combine sightseeing with a slow afternoon at sea

You should think twice if you need a detailed published route, guaranteed visits to named sites, or a long full-day cruise. The available description promises Gozo and Comino coastline, coves, lagoons, caves, and several stops, but it does not promise a particular bay every time.

The trip also suits people who can make their own fun. The boat provides the setting and equipment, while you choose how to use the time. If your group enjoys swimming, eating, listening to music, and taking in the cliffs without constant commentary, that is a strong match.

Booking details worth knowing

The charter runs for four hours and is offered in English with a live guide. You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps you from paying at the time of booking.

Confirm the starting time when you check availability, since the available times can vary. Also confirm whether you will meet at Marfa Jetty or Mgarr Harbour. That one detail matters more than it might appear.

The boat has three cabins, but the provided information does not describe special accessibility arrangements. If anyone in your group has mobility, medical, or equipment concerns, ask the operator before booking rather than assuming a sailboat will suit every need.

Final verdict: should you book it?

I would book this charter if you can fill at least six places and want a private, flexible half-day on the water. The strongest reasons are the roomy sailboat, several chances to swim and snorkel, included kayaks and paddle board, and the unusual freedom to bring food for the BBQ.

Captain Peter’s communication and relaxed hosting also make the experience more appealing. You are not just buying a boat ride. You are buying time with your own group, a skipper who can adjust the pace, and access to coastal spots that are best seen from the water.

Skip it if your group wants a long sightseeing route, a set lunch, or a formal program with every stop guaranteed. For everyone else, this is a well-priced private outing, especially when shared among a larger group.

FAQ

How long is the sailing charter?

The charter lasts four hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers a private group of up to 11 people.

Where does the boat depart?

Departure is from either Marfa Jetty in Malta or Mgarr Harbour in Gozo. The location is decided based on where the group is staying.

What water equipment is included?

Snorkeling equipment, a paddle board, and a kayak are included.

Can I bring food onto the boat?

Yes. You can bring food to cook on the onboard BBQ. The skipper can grill it for you.

Are drinks and snacks provided?

Yes. Water, soft drinks, snacks, and Prosecco are included.

Is cancellation available?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.