Private Boat Tour to Blue Lagoon Comino Caves and Gozo

Skip the ferry crowd, claim the blue water. This private Malta boat trip takes your group of up to eight between Comino, Gozo, and the Blue Lagoon, with pickup at either Cirkewwa Terminal or Mgarr Marina. I like the private setting and the flexibility to shape the outing around swimming, snorkeling, children, or quiet coves. The included equipment, bottled water, and iced cooler make the two-hour trip easy to manage.

I also like that the boat does more than make a single stop at the Blue Lagoon. Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto, caves, and a historic watchtower add variety, while Francesco has earned praise for finding places other boats might skip. The main catch is cost: the advertised price is $216.02 per group, but an €80 fuel surcharge is added per booking, so the final amount matters most for smaller groups.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to eight: Your party gets the boat to itself, with no unrelated passengers sharing the trip.
• Three water stops: Plan on about 30 minutes at Crystal Lagoon, 30 minutes at Blue Lagoon, and time around Cominotto, with the exact flow subject to the captain.
• Pickup from Malta or Gozo: Start at Cirkewwa Terminal in Malta or Mgarr Marina in Gozo.
• Snorkeling gear included: You do not need to bring your own equipment, and bottled water is supplied.
• The €80 fuel surcharge matters: Add it to the quoted group price when working out the real cost.
• A highly praised personal touch: Francesco is noted for adapting the outing, sharing information, and taking groups to less obvious spots.

Why a private boat changes the Comino experience

Comino’s famous water is no secret. On a busy day, the Blue Lagoon can feel more like a public swimming pool with cliffs around it than a quiet Mediterranean escape. A private boat gives you a better chance to control the pace, avoid spending the whole trip in one crowded anchorage, and ask for more time in the places your group enjoys most.

That matters especially if your party includes children, weak swimmers, or people who do not all want the same thing. One person can snorkel, another can stay aboard with the shade or cooler, and the group can make choices without waiting for a large tour to move.

The boat trip lasts about two hours, which is short enough to fit into a wider Malta or Gozo day. It is not a full-day cruise, though, and you should set expectations accordingly. This is a concentrated outing built around swimming, views, and short visits rather than a long coastal expedition.

Only your group takes part. That privacy is the biggest reason to consider the price. For eight people, the $216.02 base price works out to about $27 per person before the €80 fuel charge. For two people, it is a much larger spend per head. Families and groups of friends get the strongest value.

Starting at Cirkewwa or Mgarr Marina

Pickup is offered at Cirkewwa Terminal in Malta or Mgarr Marina in Gozo. This is useful because Cirkewwa is the main departure area for Comino and Gozo from Malta, while Mgarr is the natural starting point if you are already staying on Gozo.

You should confirm your preferred pickup point when booking. The stated arrangement is designed to keep the start simple, but the tour still requires you to reach one of those two locations. The boat is reported to be easy to find, which helps at a busy terminal or marina.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the activity is close to public transportation. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate, though you should consider your group’s swimming ability and comfort around open water before booking.

A practical tip: bring swimwear, sun protection, and a change of clothes even though towels are not listed as included. One family needed help getting towels and received assistance, but I would not treat that as a standard tour inclusion. The boat has an iced cooler and bottled water, and fruit was provided on at least one outing, but fruit is not formally listed among the inclusions.

Crystal Lagoon, Comino’s quieter water stop

Crystal Lagoon is scheduled for about 30 minutes. It has clear, shallow water and is generally less crowded than the Blue Lagoon, making it a good first swimming stop.

This is where the private format can work particularly well. You can use the time to get comfortable with the water, try the supplied snorkeling equipment, or simply float and look into the clear shallows. If young children are joining, the calmer feel may be less stressful than starting at Comino’s most famous and busiest inlet.

Do not expect 30 minutes to feel generous if everyone wants to swim, snorkel, take photos, and get back aboard. It is enough for a focused stop, not a leisurely half-day at the beach. The captain may also adjust the order or timing based on conditions and your group’s wishes.

Crystal Lagoon is a strong reason this tour is more interesting than a basic Blue Lagoon transfer. You get a second water setting with a quieter mood, rather than paying for a boat ride that deposits you at the island’s busiest point and waits nearby.

Blue Lagoon, beautiful but rarely peaceful

The Blue Lagoon is Comino’s signature stop, and the color is the main event. The water is famously turquoise and clear, with rocky shorelines and views across the Mediterranean. About 30 minutes is planned here for swimming and snorkeling.

I would treat this as a scenic highlight, not a promise of solitude. The lagoon is popular, and the very popularity that makes it iconic can also make it feel crowded. A private boat does not remove the other boats or people using the lagoon, but it does let your own group avoid sharing its vessel with strangers.

The timing also encourages you to be selective. Swim, take a few photos, and enjoy the view, but do not waste the whole stop trying to recreate every postcard image. If you prefer quieter water, Crystal Lagoon may become your favorite stop even though Blue Lagoon is the headline attraction.

The included snorkeling gear adds value here. You can use the time to look below the surface without arranging separate equipment, though the tour information does not specify the types or sizes available. If equipment fit matters to you, ask before departure.

Cominotto and the smaller coves near Comino

Cominotto, also called Kemmunett, is a small islet off Comino. The boat passes by and may stop there, depending on the plan and conditions. Its sandy beaches, small coves, rock formations, and cliffs offer a quieter contrast to Blue Lagoon.

This stop is less predictable than the two 30-minute lagoon visits. It is best viewed as a flexible extra rather than a guaranteed long landing. You may get a close look from the boat, a short stop for swimming, or time near a secluded cove.

Cominotto is appealing because it gives the trip a sense of discovery without requiring a major detour. You see another side of the Comino area, with less emphasis on the famous name and more on the shapes of the coast and the open sea around it.

If your group wants a particular stop here, tell the captain early. The private setup makes requests possible, but weather, sea conditions, and the day’s timing still control what can safely happen.

Caves, cliffs, and the historic watchtower

The tour also includes views of caves and coastal rock formations around Comino and Gozo. The supplied details do not name each cave or promise a specific amount of time inside them, so think of this part as a boat-based look at the coast rather than a formal cave visit.

That is still worthwhile. From the water, cliffs and openings in the rock make better sense than they do from shore. You can see how the islands have been shaped by the sea, and the boat gives your group a moving view that walking alone cannot provide.

A historic watchtower is also part of the route. Built in 1618 by the Knights of St. John, it formed part of a coastal network used for defense and communication. The tower reflects how important these islands were for watching ships and protecting the surrounding waters.

The tower also gives the excursion a little more substance than a simple swim circuit. You are not only chasing bright water. You are passing a real piece of Malta’s defensive past, with broad views over the sea. The available information does not state that the tour includes a land visit to the tower, so expect to see it as part of the route unless the operator confirms otherwise.

A captain who adapts the outing

The personal service is central to this experience. Francesco is praised for being friendly, informative, and willing to take groups to places they might not see on a standard trip. That sort of local decision-making is particularly useful around Comino, where the best stop can depend on the crowd, the weather, and what your group wants at that moment.

The tour has also worked well for families with young children. The route can be adjusted around their needs and interests, rather than forcing everyone to follow a fixed large-group schedule. That does not make the boat risk-free or remove the need for adult supervision, but it does make the format more forgiving.

The strongest praise centers on accommodation and care. A birthday outing received plenty of swimming time, fruit after the water stops, help finding towels, and warm hosting. Those extras are encouraging, but they are not all guaranteed inclusions. The formal package promises snorkeling equipment, bottled water, and an iced cooler.

The captain’s approach is likely to matter more than a polished script. If you want facts about the tower, caves, or islands, ask questions. If you want more time in the water, say so. The private arrangement gives your requests a real chance of shaping the trip.

What the price really buys you

The base price is $216.02 for the whole group, up to eight people. An €80 fuel surcharge is not included, which is the detail most likely to change your calculation. Because the two prices use different currencies, check the final booking total rather than relying on a quick conversion.

For a full group, the cost can be reasonable for a private boat with equipment, water, a cooler, and pickup options from either Malta or Gozo. You are paying for privacy and flexibility, not just transport from one lagoon to another.

For a couple, the price is harder to justify unless privacy is a high priority. A shared boat could cost less, but it would also mean less control over the route and no exclusive space for your own plans. The best value comes when six to eight people split the charge.

The short duration helps keep the outing manageable, but it also limits what can be included. You should not expect a full tour of both Gozo and Comino in two hours. The value lies in a compact route covering several strong coastal sights, with swimming time built in.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this trip for a group of friends, a family celebration, or anyone who wants to avoid a crowded shared boat. It also suits people staying in Gozo because pickup at Mgarr Marina removes the need to cross back to Malta before starting.

Families may appreciate the ability to adapt the pace around children. Swimmers and snorkelers get several places to use the water, while anyone who prefers sightseeing can focus on the caves, cliffs, islets, and tower.

This is less suited to someone who wants a long, slow day at sea. Two hours passes quickly, especially when three stops are planned. It is also not ideal if you want a guaranteed extended visit to Cominotto or a formal walk through the watchtower, since those details are not promised.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. If you cancel yourself, you need to do so at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted.

Six practical questions to ask before departure

Ask which pickup point is confirmed, Cirkewwa Terminal or Mgarr Marina. Also confirm how the €80 fuel surcharge is shown in your final price.

If your group has young children, explain their needs before the boat leaves. The trip can be personalized, and early communication gives the captain a clearer idea of how much swimming, sightseeing, or quiet time you want.

Ask about towels if nobody in your group is bringing them. Assistance has been provided before, but towels are not listed as included.

If snorkeling is important, ask about the available equipment and sizes. Gear is included, but the details of the equipment are not specified.

Finally, ask how the captain expects to handle Cominotto and the caves that day. Those parts can depend on conditions and timing, while Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon are the clearer scheduled stops.

Should you book the private Comino boat tour?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and you care about privacy, flexible pacing, and more than one swimming stop. Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Cominotto, caves, and the 1618 watchtower give the outing more variety than a simple ferry ride, and Francesco’s friendly, adaptable style adds real appeal.

Think twice if you are traveling alone or as a couple and mainly want the cheapest way to reach the Blue Lagoon. The €80 fuel surcharge changes the value, and two hours is not enough for a full exploration of Comino and Gozo.

For a birthday, family outing, or small group that wants its own boat, this is an easy recommendation. Just confirm the final price, bring sun protection and swimwear, and treat the quieter stops as valuable parts of the route rather than spending the whole trip chasing the Blue Lagoon.

FAQ

How much does the private boat tour cost?

The advertised price is $216.02 per group of up to eight people. An €80 fuel surcharge is added per booking.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately two hours.

Where can pickup take place?

Pickup is offered at Cirkewwa Terminal in Malta or Mgarr Marina in Gozo.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, bottled water, and an iced cooler are included.

What stops are part of the route?

The route includes Crystal Lagoon, Blue Lagoon, Cominotto, caves, and views of a historic watchtower. Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon are each scheduled for about 30 minutes. The boat passes by Cominotto and may also stop there.

What happens if the weather is poor or I need to cancel?

The experience requires good weather. If the operator cancels 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.