Comino Blue Lagoon and Gozo-Sea Star Boat Private Tour

The best part of this private boat trip is the freedom to spend real time in Comino’s clear blue water instead of simply circling the island. You can swim at the Blue Lagoon, then slip away to quieter bays, caves, and Gozo’s south coast with your own group.

I like the generous route, which includes Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Bay, the Santa Maria Caves, and several Gozo inlets. I also like the practical service: snorkeling masks are included, a cooler with ice is provided, and Joseph and Frankie are known for being attentive without hovering. The main drawback is the price. At $1,130.75 per group, it is strong value for 12 to 15 people, but costly for a small party.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to 15 people: Your group does not share the vessel with strangers.
• Blue Lagoon plus quieter stops: The route adds Crystal Lagoon, Santa Marija Bay, caves, and Gozo’s Qala area.
• About five hours of planned sightseeing: The listed stops total roughly 5 hours, though the advertised trip range is 2 to 6 hours.
• Snorkeling gear and fuel included: You receive masks, and the fuel surcharge is already covered.
• Bring lunch or buy it in Gozo: Food and drinks cost extra, but a cooler and ice are supplied.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Why a private boat changes the Blue Lagoon visit

Comino’s Blue Lagoon is the star of this trip, and for good reason. The bay has shallow, clear water in shades of blue that make swimming and snorkeling easy to enjoy. From a boat, you avoid making the Blue Lagoon your only destination. You can swim there, then move on when the crowds or boat traffic become tiring.

The private format matters most if you are traveling with family or a large group of friends. You can share the cost among as many as 15 people, decide how much time to spend in the water, and keep the day focused on swimming rather than following a large group.

The boat anchors at a chosen spot in the lagoon. That gives you a direct swim from the boat and a better chance to enjoy the water without treating the beach as your only base. Still, do not expect solitude. The Blue Lagoon attracts hundreds of people during summer, and the water around the bay can be busy.

I would plan to swim early in your time there, then use the later stops for a calmer pace. The lagoon is beautiful, but the quieter parts of Comino often make a stronger memory.

Crystal Lagoon brings caves and calmer water

After Blue Lagoon, the boat heads to Crystal Lagoon on Comino’s northwest side. This is one of the most appealing stops for anyone who prefers a mix of swimming, snorkeling, and exploring small sea caves.

The water is clear and turquoise, with several caves close to the shore. Some are shallow and have sandy bottoms, so you can enter without needing advanced water skills. The crew also shows you caves associated with film locations, including Lovers Cave and Popeye’s Cave.

You can use the provided snorkeling masks here at no extra charge. Bream fish are common in the area, which gives you something to look for beneath the surface. The stop lasts about an hour and a half, long enough for a relaxed swim rather than a quick photo stop.

The practical point is that this stop rewards active passengers. If you want to swim through cave openings, watch fish, or try a little fishing, Crystal Lagoon gives you options. If you prefer staying dry, the rock formations are still worth seeing from the boat, but this is not the part of the trip built around sitting still.

Gozo’s Qala coast adds a different side of Malta

The route then crosses toward Gozo’s southern coast near Qala. This section is less about one famous bay and more about a series of coastal places that are difficult to reach from land.

Tal-Halfa Beach sits behind a large solitary rock called Halfa Rock. The beach has clay-rich sand and a more rugged feel than the polished image many people associate with Blue Lagoon. You will also pass Hondoq Bay, a pebbly beach with clear blue water.

The most unusual stop is Bemberin Gorge, a narrow inlet reached by boat. Several caves are found here, and the clear water makes it a strong place for swimming. The site also suits confident cliff jumpers, but you should only enter the water in a way that matches your own ability and the crew’s instructions.

This one-hour Gozo section gives the trip useful variety. You are not simply repeating the same beach scene four times. The coast changes from sandy shallows to pebbly bays, rock walls, and cave entrances.

Santa Marija Bay offers a quieter pause

Santa Marija Bay is the sensible retreat after the noise of Blue Lagoon. It is a small sandy beach with shallow, clear water, and it sits about a 20-minute walk from the Blue Lagoon for anyone visiting Comino on foot.

The bay is next to Comino’s small police station, which helps explain why it feels more controlled than some of the island’s open coves. Tamarisk trees provide some shade, a useful feature during the hottest part of the day.

There can be dead algae along the shore because of the currents. That is not unusual for a natural beach, but it may affect your first impression. The water itself is described as clean and shallow, while the beach is sandy and suitable for a more relaxed swim.

I like this stop because it gives you a choice. You can stay on the boat and enjoy the bay from the water, or ask to spend time closer to shore. If your group includes people who want less activity, Santa Marija Bay may be the most comfortable part of the route.

Watch for Elephant Rock on Comino’s east side

At some point during the trip, the boat passes Elephant Rock. This natural arch has the outline of an elephant leaning its head toward the water, making it one of Comino’s easiest formations to recognize from the sea.

The boat passes it during the route rather than stopping for a timed visit. Keep your camera ready, since the exact moment depends on the direction and flow of the outing.

The seabed around Elephant Rock includes sand with scattered posidonia patches. Depths range from about 3 to 18 meters, though the tour’s focus is sightseeing and swimming rather than a formal underwater excursion. The rock is still a worthwhile feature because it breaks up the open-water cruising with a memorable natural landmark.

Santa Maria Caves are the final natural highlight

The Santa Maria Caves sit on Comino’s north side and form a group of five shallow caves. Their entrances and rock shapes have also appeared in film, including The Count of Monte Cristo.

The boat spends about 30 minutes visiting the caves. That is enough time to look into the openings, take photos, and appreciate how the sea has shaped the rock. Compared with Crystal Lagoon, this is more of a viewing stop, though the shallow cave systems are part of a popular underwater site.

I would treat this as a scenic finale rather than the main swimming stop. The short visit works well after several hours in the water, when you may be ready to remain on board and enjoy the coastline.

What the five-hour route feels like

The listed stop times add up to about five hours:

• Blue Lagoon: about 2 hours
• Crystal Lagoon: about 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Gozo’s Qala coast: about 1 hour
• Santa Marija Bay: about 1 hour
• Santa Maria Caves: about 30 minutes

The advertised duration is approximately 2 to 6 hours, so the exact shape of your outing may vary. A shorter booking may focus on Comino’s main bays, while a longer outing can include the full sequence described above. Confirm the planned duration when booking, especially if your group has a flight, dinner reservation, or return transport to catch.

The operating window is listed as 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., every day, from June 13, 2023, through March 19, 2027. That makes this a daytime water trip, with the strongest value coming from a group willing to spend several hours swimming and cruising.

The boat service and group experience

The experience is private, so only your group participates. That is especially useful for families, birthday groups, and friends who want to set their own pace. You can talk with the crew about where to swim, how long to remain at a stop, and which parts of the route matter most to your group.

The boat used by the service has been described as clean and spacious, with room for a group of 13. That detail matters because a private boat is not automatically comfortable. Space to sit, move around, and dry off makes a long day on the water much easier.

Joseph and Frankie are associated with the crew, and their service style is attentive without being intrusive. That balance is worth noting. You want help with masks, anchoring, and local stops, but you do not want a guide constantly managing your free time.

Snorkeling equipment is included, along with the fuel surcharge. Bring your own preferred gear if you have it, but you do not need to arrange masks separately for this trip.

Food, drinks, and the useful cooler

Lunch is not included. You can bring your own food and drinks, or stop at Mgarr Harbour in Gozo to buy something. A cooler box with complimentary ice is provided, which is a small but practical benefit on a hot boat ride.

I would decide on food before departure if your group wants to maximize swimming time. Buying something in Mgarr Harbour gives you flexibility, but it also uses part of the day. Bringing simple food lets you stay focused on the bays and caves.

The cooler is especially useful for larger groups. Fifteen people can go through a surprising amount of water in the sun, and keeping drinks cold is far better than relying on warm bottles in a bag.

Is $1,130.75 a fair price?

The price is $1,130.75 for the entire group, up to 15 people. At full capacity, that works out to about $75 per person. For 13 people, the cost is about $87 per person. For six people, it rises to roughly $188 per person, and for two people it becomes a very expensive private outing.

That makes the group size the key value question. If you can fill most of the boat, the price becomes reasonable for a private vessel, fuel, snorkeling masks, a multi-stop route, and crew service. If you are traveling as a couple or a small family, a shared boat may cost less, though it will not offer the same control or privacy.

I see the strongest value for groups of 10 to 15 people who want a full day around Comino and Gozo. The route covers enough coastline to justify the price, and the private format removes the compromises that come with a crowded excursion.

Optional taxi, van, or coach transfers can be arranged at an added cost. The boat trip itself ends back at the meeting point, so check how you will reach the marina before booking the transfer option.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most?

I would recommend this outing to people who want to spend much of the day in and around the water. It suits confident swimmers, snorkelers, families with older children, and groups of friends who enjoy combining beaches with caves and coastal sights.

It also works well for a group that values privacy. You can avoid sharing the boat with strangers and have a more relaxed conversation with the crew about the day.

The trip is less suitable if you want a land-based tour of Comino or Gozo. There is no listed walking tour, cultural visit, or included meal. You will see the islands mainly from the boat, with time to swim and visit bays.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The tour is described as safe for all types of groups, but normal water judgment still matters. Shallow water at one bay does not mean every cave or inlet is right for every swimmer.

Booking, weather, and timing advice

Confirmation is sent at booking. Since the trip depends on good weather, poor conditions can lead to a different date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local Malta time.

I would leave some flexibility in your schedule if possible. The water is the reason to book this experience, so a weather-related change is better than forcing a rough outing. Also remember that the full route can take close to five hours, even though the advertised duration range begins at two hours.

Should you book the Comino and Gozo private tour?

Book it if you have a large enough group to share the cost and want more than a quick Blue Lagoon visit. The combination of Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Gozo’s Qala coast, Santa Marija Bay, Elephant Rock, and Santa Maria Caves gives you a broad look at the islands from the water.

The strongest reasons to choose it are the private boat, the spacious vessel, the included snorkeling equipment, and the attentive service linked with Joseph and Frankie. The main reason to hesitate is price for small groups, along with the fact that food, drinks, and transfers cost extra.

For 12 to 15 people, I think the value is convincing. For fewer than six, compare the total cost carefully. If your priority is a private day with plenty of swimming and several natural stops, this is a practical and enjoyable way to see Comino and part of Gozo.

FAQ

How many people can join the private boat tour?

The private tour accommodates a group of up to 15 people, and only your group participates.

How long does the tour last?

The advertised duration is approximately 2 to 6 hours. The listed full route includes stop times totaling about 5 hours.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling masks are provided for use at no additional cost.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can bring your own or buy food at Gozo’s Mgarr Harbour. A cooler box with complimentary ice is provided.

Is hotel or residence pickup included?

Pickup is offered, but private taxi, van, or coach transfers to and from the boat cost extra.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time to receive a full refund. Changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted.