Malta’s Splendour Excursion – Trips in Blue Grotto & Comino

Malta looks best from the water. This five-hour private cruise links Comino’s caves and coves with the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Gozo, and the Blue Grotto. I like the freedom to shape the route, and I like having the boat to your own group rather than sharing it with a crowd. The main catch is the real cost: the advertised $235 boat price does not include the €99 skipper fee or €99 fuel charge.

You can swim, snorkel, explore small islands, or simply sit on the sun deck while your skipper handles the route. Guides such as Mario, Harry, and Joe have earned especially warm praise for their humor, local knowledge, care, and willingness to adjust the day. Still, this is a boat-first outing, so sea-sickness sufferers should think carefully before booking.

Key Points To Know Before You Go

• Private boat for up to six people: The price applies to the whole boat, not each passenger.
• Comino is the main event: Expect caves, quiet bays, the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto Island, Roofless Cave, and Pigeon Rock.
• Your skipper can tailor the route: You can ask for more swimming, snorkeling, quiet bays, sightseeing, or time at specific stops.
• Gozo adds a second island: The route can include Mgarr Harbour, Hondoq Bay, Crow Rock, and Tal-Ħalfa Beaches.
• The boat includes useful gear: Snorkel equipment, a canopy, cooler, Bluetooth speaker, WiFi, safety equipment, and lagoon permits are provided.
• Budget for extra charges: Add the €99 skipper fee and €99 fuel charge to the $235 base price.

Why A Private Boat Changes The Day

A shared cruise gives you a fixed schedule. This one gives you a conversation with the skipper and a chance to shape the outing around your group.

That matters in the Maltese islands. A popular place such as the Blue Lagoon can feel busy, while a nearby cove may offer a calmer swim. Your skipper can adjust the timing and route when conditions allow, and you can ask to spend longer in a quiet bay or move on when a stop is not working for you.

The boat carries up to six people, making the experience most attractive for a family, a group of friends, or two or three couples traveling together. A private group also gives you room to set the mood. You can use the Bluetooth speaker, sit under the canopy, or stretch out on the sun deck without negotiating space with strangers.

The value depends heavily on group size. The base price is $235 per boat, not per person, but the skipper and fuel each add €99. That makes the total listed charges substantially higher than the headline price. Split among six people, it can be reasonable for a private half-day on the water. For one or two people, it becomes a much more expensive choice than a shared boat.

The private format is the real product here. You are paying for control, space, and flexibility rather than simply transportation between sights.

Setting Out From Cirkewwa Or Mgarr Harbour

You can join the boat in Malta at Cirkewwa, close to the kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal, or in Gozo at Mgarr Harbour, near Sicilia Bella Restaurant in the departure area.

Arrive 30 minutes early. The operator advises this because traffic and small delays can affect departure, and lateness does not extend your five-hour charter. Check the starting point carefully before the day, especially if you are staying elsewhere on Malta or Gozo.

The departure area at Cirkewwa is useful if you are already on northern Malta or planning to combine the boat with time on Gozo. Mgarr Harbour works well if you are staying on Gozo or reaching the port by ferry. The booking information describes pickup as included from these designated meeting points, but it does not promise hotel pickup across the islands.

Once aboard, you have comfortable seating, a sun deck, and a canopy for shade. The ice cooler is included, but food and drinks are not. Bring your own supplies if you want refreshments during the charter, and remember that cash is listed among the recommended items to bring.

Comino Caves, Coves, And The Blue Lagoon

Comino is the heart of the trip. The island is small, dry, and famous for its clear water, rocky shore, caves, and sheltered swimming areas.

The boat follows the coast rather than giving you only one postcard stop. You can see small channels, rock formations, and openings in the cliffs while the skipper explains local places and stories. The route may include Cominotto Island, Roofless Cave, and Pigeon Rock, each offering a different view of the coast.

The Blue Lagoon is the best-known stop, and for good reason. The water is clear and inviting, and you can swim straight from the boat. If you would rather stay dry, you can take a short walk along the shore, though the boat gives you a more pleasant way to avoid spending the whole visit in the busiest area.

The word private matters most here. The skipper can aim for a quieter section or alter the timing when sea conditions and traffic on the water permit. You should not expect complete solitude at the Blue Lagoon, especially during the busiest parts of the season, but you can gain distance from the thickest crowds by making the boat your base.

Snorkeling equipment, including mask and snorkel, is included. One guest had a minor problem with the equipment, though the guide worked to resolve it. I would still bring your own mask if you have one that fits well, but the provided gear gives you the option to swim without packing extra equipment.

Cliff jumping is also mentioned as an option for the adventurous. Treat this as condition-dependent, not a guaranteed activity. Only use spots approved by the skipper, and follow instructions about depth, rocks, and current.

Crystal Lagoon And The Best Swimming Stop

Crystal Lagoon is described as a favorite swimming area, and it gives the day a more sheltered, intimate feel than the famous Blue Lagoon.

This is a good place to let the outing slow down. You can swim, snorkel, photograph the rock walls, or sit on the boat and enjoy the reflections on the water. The included canopy helps when you need a break from the sun, while the open deck gives you a clear view when you want to watch the coast pass.

I would plan to bring a towel, swimwear, sunscreen, and sunglasses. The sun can feel intense on open water, and five hours is long enough for a missed sunscreen application to become a problem. The supplied safety equipment is reassuring, but this remains an active sea outing, not a sightseeing boat with fully sheltered seating.

A good skipper can make a major difference at stops like Crystal Lagoon. Mario has been praised for being considerate, flexible, and entertaining. Harry is known for finding more private bays and keeping the trip light and fun. Joe has been singled out for his calm manner, attention to safety, helpfulness, and even taking photos for the group.

Those names matter because this experience is personal. You spend much of the day with one skipper, and the quality of that interaction shapes the trip as much as the scenery.

Gozo Through The Channel

The boat can cross toward Gozo, Malta’s northern island, and pass through the channel toward Mgarr Harbour.

This part gives you a change of view. Comino is about small coves and bright swimming water, while Gozo brings broader coastal views and different rock formations. The route can include Hondoq Bay, Crow Rock, and Tal-Ħalfa Beaches.

Do not think of this as a full Gozo tour on land. Five hours is not enough for an extended island visit, and the boat remains the focus. Instead, you get a coastal sampler and the pleasure of seeing Mgarr Harbour from the water.

Hondoq Bay can be a pleasant contrast to the better-known lagoon areas. Crow Rock and Tal-Ħalfa Beaches add more shoreline variety, but the exact order and length of each stop depend on weather, tides, shallows, and your skipper’s judgment.

That flexibility is a strength, but it also means you should not treat every named place as a guaranteed long stop. The skipper can modify the route for safety or better conditions. On a calm day, you may spend more time swimming. On a rougher day, the focus may shift toward sheltered water and coastal views.

The Short Mdina Stop

The planned return includes a stop at Mdina, Malta’s old capital, with about 30 minutes to explore.

This is a curious addition to a boat-centered excursion. Half an hour is enough to walk a short section, see the high bastions, glimpse the narrow streets, and get a taste of the old city. It is not enough for a full visit to museums, churches, or every lane.

Mdina is known for its old stone streets, legends, horse-drawn carriages, and high defensive walls. Even a quick look can add useful context to a day otherwise focused on sea, rock, and swimming.

Keep your expectations modest. If Mdina is a major priority, give it a separate visit on another day. Here, the stop works as a brief change of pace before the final coastal viewpoint. The practical details of how the land portion connects with the boat charter are not fully specified, so confirm the exact transfer arrangements when booking.

Blue Grotto And The Final Coastal View

The final major stop is the Blue Grotto on Malta’s southern coast.

This area is famous for its natural arches, bright water, and group of six caves. The sunlight can create strong reflections and changing shades on the rock, making this one of the most photogenic parts of the route.

The Blue Grotto is best appreciated from the water, where the arches and cave openings make sense as a connected coastal system. The boat gives you a low viewpoint that is difficult to match from land. You can expect impressive scenery, but the exact ability to enter or approach caves will depend on sea conditions and the skipper’s decision.

Some departures finish with sunset views. A group that took the afternoon-to-evening timing in October especially enjoyed returning to the harbor as the sky changed color. If you like warm light and cooler temperatures, ask about a late departure, though the operator may adjust the selected time to suit conditions.

What The Skipper Adds

The skipper is not just a person steering the boat. On this outing, the skipper provides the local context, watches the water, answers questions, and decides when a route change is needed.

The strongest pattern in the feedback is the human side of the experience. Mario is praised for making the day fun and informative. Harry has been especially good at following requests for quieter bays. Joe is described as professional, kind, attentive, safety-minded, and willing to help with photos and comfort.

That does not mean every departure will feel identical. Your skipper, weather, sea conditions, and group preferences will shape the day. Still, the private structure gives the guide room to respond to you instead of delivering a fixed script.

English and Maltese are available. The activity has a 4.9 rating from 32 reviews, and transport received a 95 percent perfect score. Those figures suggest a strong record, but the small number of ratings means you should still focus on the practical fit: comfort on a boat, swimming ability, budget, and tolerance for changing plans.

What To Bring And What Costs Extra

Pack lightly, but bring the right things:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunglasses and sunscreen
• Cash
• Personal food and drinks if you want them
• Your own snorkeling mask if you prefer a guaranteed fit

The boat includes a cooler with ice, but not meals or beverages. Party food, party drinks, barbecue supplies, a barbecue, fishing equipment, and a fishing cooler all cost extra or are not included.

Snorkeling equipment is supplied, as are safety items and lagoon permits. The canopy is useful for shade, while WiFi and a Bluetooth speaker add comfort but should not be the reason you book. The real benefits are the private boat, the route flexibility, and the chance to swim from the vessel.

The operator offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and allows you to reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your plans are still shifting, but weather decisions remain with the skipper. The skipper can cancel, postpone, change the route, or alter departure and disembarkation points when sea conditions, tides, shallows, or other valid concerns require it.

Who Will Enjoy This Most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want an active, flexible day and prefer a private boat to a large group cruise.

It suits:

• Groups of up to six splitting the cost
• Swimmers and snorkelers
• Families wanting control over the pace
• Friends who want music, sun, and swimming
• Couples who prefer quiet coves to a fixed group schedule
• Visitors with only one half-day for Comino and nearby sights

It is less suitable if you dislike moving water, want a fully land-based tour, or expect every named stop to receive equal time. One guest specifically warned that people sensitive to sea-sickness may not enjoy it. Take that seriously, especially because the outing lasts five hours.

The boat was described as just large enough for four people by one group, though still comfortable and enjoyable. With six passengers, seating may feel more compact, particularly if everyone brings bags or wants the best spot on the deck.

Should You Book Malta’s Splendour Excursion?

Book it if you value privacy and control more than the lowest possible price.

The strongest reasons are clear: you can move between Comino’s caves and lagoons, swim in clear water, see parts of Gozo, view the Blue Grotto, and ask for a route shaped around your group. The skippers have earned high praise for humor, flexibility, safety, and personal attention.

Before paying, calculate the full cost. The $235 base charge is for the boat, then add the €99 skipper fee and €99 fuel charge. For six people, that may be a fair way to enjoy a private half-day. For a smaller party, compare the total with shared cruises.

I would also confirm the exact departure time, land arrangements for the Mdina stop, and what route is realistic for the season. If you love being on the water and can handle a little motion, this offers one of Malta’s best ways to connect swimming, caves, coastal scenery, and local stories in a single outing.

FAQ

How long is Malta’s Splendour Excursion?

The private boat charter lasts five hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability for your preferred date.

How much does the private boat cost?

The listed price is $235 for a private boat holding up to six people. The €99 professional skipper fee and €99 fuel charge are not included.

Is the price charged per person?

No. The rate applies per boat, not per passenger.

Where does the boat leave from?

You can depart from Malta at Cirkewwa, near the kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal, or from Gozo at Mgarr Harbour, near Sicilia Bella Restaurant.

Is pickup included?

Pickup is included from the two designated departure areas at Cirkewwa and Mgarr Harbour. The information does not state that hotel pickup is included.

What languages does the guide speak?

The available tour languages are Maltese and English.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The charter is for a private group, with capacity for up to six people.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are provided. Safety equipment and lagoon permits are also included.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food, drinks, party food, party beverages, barbecue supplies, and barbecue service are not included.

Can the route change?

Yes. The skipper can change the route, timing, departure point, or disembarkation point because of weather, tides, shallow water, sea conditions, or other legitimate safety reasons.