Private Boat Charter Comino, Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Gozo

Small boats reveal more of Malta. This private charter takes you from Sliema along Malta’s coast to sea caves, Comino’s famous Blue Lagoon, the quieter Crystal Lagoon, and, on the longer route, Gozo. I like the freedom of having a boat for just your group, and I like that the captain can take you close to places larger boats cannot reach.

The strongest points are the peaceful swimming stops and the access to the Santa Maria Caves. You get time to snorkel, sunbathe, and enjoy the sea without following a large boatload of people. The main consideration is the price: $786.40 for up to seven people is fair for a private full-day charter, but it makes the most sense when your group fills several seats.

Key points to know before booking

• Santa Maria Caves access: The smaller boat can enter parts of the caves that larger vessels cannot reach.
• Two route choices: You can focus on Comino or add Gozo, with different amounts of time at the lagoons.
• Blue Lagoon time: The Comino-only option allows about 1.5 hours here, while the Gozo and Comino route allows about 1 hour.
• Quiet coves: Crystal Lagoon and the Gozo stops offer time for swimming, snorkeling, and resting away from the main route.
• Private group setting: Only your own party participates, with a maximum of seven people.
• Captain Bufon: One highly praised captain is Bufon, who adds useful information while keeping the day relaxed.

Seven hours on Malta’s coast

The charter lasts about seven hours, including the return to Sliema. That gives you enough time to see several parts of Malta’s coastline without trying to cram an entire island tour into a rushed afternoon.

Your meeting point is Ferries 2Malta at the Strand in Sliema. The boat first travels along the coast for about 35 minutes. This opening stretch is useful because you can settle in, enjoy the views, and get a sense of Malta from the water before the swimming stops begin.

I like the private format here. You are not sharing the day with a large mixed group, so the pace feels more personal. Your group can spend its available time swimming, snorkeling, or sitting on the boat rather than waiting for dozens of people to return from shore.

The tour is offered in English, and confirmation arrives when you book. The meeting point is near public transportation, which makes Sliema a practical starting place for many visitors staying in Malta.

Marks and Dukes Window, then Smugglers Cave

The boat passes Marks and Dukes Window and Smugglers Cave during the coastal journey. The stop at Smugglers Cave lasts about 45 minutes, giving you a chance to look closely at the rock formations and take photographs from the water.

This part of the route is more about scenery and atmosphere than a formal sightseeing visit. You should expect a boat-based view rather than a long walk or museum-style stop. That is a good fit if you want your day to stay centered on the sea.

The captain’s role matters during these quieter sections. Bufon is specifically praised for making the trip both relaxing and interesting, so you can expect helpful information without turning the outing into a nonstop lecture.

Inside the Santa Maria Caves on Comino

One of the charter’s most unusual features is the chance to enter the Santa Maria Caves. The smaller boat can move through narrow passages that are not suitable for larger vessels, bringing you closer to the cave walls, rock shapes, and clear water.

This is where a private charter earns its keep. A large sightseeing boat may show you the general area, but a smaller craft can offer a more intimate view of the cave entrances and interior sections. You will want your camera ready, though changing light and movement on the water can make photographs tricky.

The cave visit is also a reminder that conditions at sea shape the day. The charter requires good weather, and the captain may need to adjust the route if conditions are not suitable. That flexibility is important around rocky coastal areas and narrow cave passages.

Blue Lagoon: famous, beautiful, and busy

Blue Lagoon is the headline stop for many people visiting Comino. The water is clear and bright, and the boat anchors so you can swim, snorkel, or relax on deck. It is an easy place to understand the lagoon’s appeal: the color of the water and the pale rock around it make a memorable setting.

With the Comino-only option, you spend about 1.5 hours here. That is enough time for a proper swim and some relaxed time on the boat, rather than a quick photo stop.

The Gozo and Comino option allows about one hour at Blue Lagoon. That shorter visit is the tradeoff for adding Gozo later. If Blue Lagoon is your top priority, the Comino-only route gives you more time there. If you want a broader day on the water, the Gozo option spreads your time across more locations.

Blue Lagoon is also the stop where expectations matter most. It is the best-known place on this route, so it may feel less quiet than the other coves. A private boat gives your group space on board, but it does not make the lagoon itself private.

Crystal Lagoon and the best snorkeling time

Crystal Lagoon gets its name from its clear turquoise water. Rocky cliffs and vegetation surround the cove, creating a more sheltered setting than the open coast. The shallow water supports colorful fish and sea urchins, making this a strong stop for snorkeling.

You get about 1.5 hours here on the Comino-only route, or about one hour when you add Gozo. That is enough time to enter the water, look around with a mask, and return to the boat for a rest.

I especially like the balance between Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon. Blue Lagoon is the famous stop, while Crystal Lagoon gives you another setting with its own character. If your group includes people who want to swim at their own pace, the private boat makes it easier to split your time naturally between the water and the deck.

The tour description does not list snorkel equipment, meals, drinks, or towels. You should check what you need to bring before departure rather than assume those items are supplied. The information does confirm that snorkeling and swimming are central parts of the day.

Choosing between Comino only and Gozo and Comino

The two route choices suit different kinds of days.

The Comino option gives you longer stops at Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, about 1.5 hours at each. It is the better choice if you want a slower swimming day, more time on the boat, and less movement between islands.

The Gozo and Comino option reduces the lagoon stops to about one hour each but adds around two hours around Gozo. The captain may take you to Ramla Bay and San Blas Bay, or to Mgarr ix-Xini. These stops focus on Gozo’s coastline, with time to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and enjoy the coves from the water.

I would choose Comino only for a relaxed water day. You get more time at the two main lagoons and avoid trying to cover too much ground.

I would choose Gozo and Comino if your group wants variety. You see Comino’s best-known water stops, then add a different island and more coastline. The cost is less time at each lagoon, so the choice comes down to depth versus range.

Two hours around Gozo’s coves

The Gozo route includes about two hours around Gozo after the Comino stops. Possible locations include Ramla Bay and San Blas Bay, or Mgarr ix-Xini. The exact choice is not presented as fixed, so the captain’s decision and sea conditions can shape this part of the day.

This is not a land tour of Gozo. You are exploring the coastline by boat, with time to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and enjoy the views. That makes it a good addition for anyone who wants to see Gozo without giving up the pleasures of a day on the water.

The two-hour stop also gives this option a useful change of pace. After the well-known lagoons of Comino, Gozo offers another setting and a longer final swimming period. Still, you should not book this route expecting a full tour of Gozo’s towns, churches, or inland sights. The experience stays on the coast.

Returning to Sliema by boat

The return journey takes about 40 minutes. After several hours around the lagoons and coves, this gives you a final chance to sit back and watch the Maltese coast from the water.

A full day at sea can be tiring, especially if you spend much of the time swimming or in the sun. The private setting helps because you can rest when you want instead of keeping up with a large group’s schedule.

The activity ends back at the original meeting point in Sliema. That simple return is useful if you have evening plans nearby and do not want to arrange separate transport from another harbor.

Is $786.40 good value for seven people?

The listed price is $786.40 per group, for up to seven people. If seven people share the cost, it works out to about $112 per person for roughly seven hours. A group of four would pay about $197 per person, while a couple would carry the full private-boat cost between them.

That makes the charter most attractive for families or groups of friends. The private format, cave access, captain’s attention, and flexible feeling are hard to compare directly with a standard shared boat trip. You are paying not only for transport, but also for space, privacy, and a route built around swimming and coastal access.

The value is weaker for one or two people unless privacy is especially important to you. A shared excursion may cost less, though it will not offer the same small-group setting. The 100 percent recommendation rate and five-star rating from 157 reviews suggest strong satisfaction, particularly with the relaxed pace, swimming opportunities, and small boat access.

The praise for Bufon is worth noting. He is described as a fabulous guide who made the day interesting while keeping it calm. That combination is exactly what you want on a long boat outing: enough information to understand the coast, but plenty of quiet time to enjoy it.

Who should book this charter?

This experience suits you best if you want a full day centered on the sea. It works especially well for:

• Families who want a private boat and an easy group schedule
• Friends splitting the cost across several people
• Confident swimmers and snorkelers
• People who prefer coves and caves over museums or city sightseeing
• Visitors who want to combine Comino with part of Gozo
• Photographers looking for close views of sea caves and rock formations

You should think twice if you dislike open-water outings, want a detailed land tour of Gozo, or prefer a short sightseeing trip with little time in the sun. The charter is built around swimming, snorkeling, and coastal scenery, not a packed list of monuments.

Most people can participate, and the activity is near public transportation. The information does not provide specific details about mobility access, boat facilities, or included equipment, so ask A1 Boat Charters Malta before booking if those points matter to your group.

Weather, cancellation, and practical planning

Good weather is required. If poor weather causes the charter to be canceled, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded or accepted. The cut-off follows local Malta time.

Because the day includes long swimming stops, plan around comfort in the sun. The supplied details confirm time for sunbathing and swimming, but they do not state what food, drinks, towels, or snorkeling gear are included. Confirm those details directly before you go.

The experience is offered in English, uses a mobile ticket, and is a private activity for your group only. It is also booked about 63 days ahead on average, which suggests you should reserve early if you need a particular date during a busy season.

Should you book it?

Book this private Malta boat charter if you can fill several places and want Comino from the water rather than from a crowded sightseeing boat. The strongest reasons are the Santa Maria Caves, the long swimming stops, the private group setting, and the chance to add Gozo without arranging a second excursion.

Choose the Comino route for more time at Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon. Choose Gozo and Comino for a wider coastal day with two additional hours around Gozo. For a group of up to seven, the price can be sensible. For a couple, it is a special-occasion splurge.

FAQ

Where does the private boat charter start?

The tour starts at Ferries 2Malta on the Strand in Sliema.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity returns to the original meeting point at Sliema Promenade.

How long does the charter last?

The charter lasts approximately seven hours, including the return journey to Sliema.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private charter accommodates one group of up to seven people.

Does the charter visit Blue Lagoon?

Yes. The boat anchors at Blue Lagoon, where you can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and relax on board.

How much time is spent at Blue Lagoon?

The Comino option allows about 1.5 hours at Blue Lagoon. The Gozo and Comino option allows about one hour.

Does the boat visit Crystal Lagoon?

Yes. Crystal Lagoon is included, with time for swimming and snorkeling in its clear water.

Can the boat enter the Santa Maria Caves?

Yes. The smaller private boat can enter inside the Santa Maria Caves, including areas that larger boats cannot access.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the charter to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.