Comino Island , Blue lagoon, Crystal Lagoon & Gozo & Caves

Comino’s famous Blue Lagoon is only one part of this full-day boat trip. You also get Crystal Lagoon, Halfa Rock in Gozo, several cave visits, and long swim stops that let you enjoy the water instead of just taking a quick photograph.

I like the generous time in the water and the route past Smuggler’s Cave, Santa Maria Caves, Poppy’s Cave, Lovers Cave, and Elephant Rock. I also like the simple value: at $34 per person, the fare includes the boat ride, three swim stops, light snacks, toilets, and showers. The main concern is capacity. One passenger reported an overcrowded boat with little room for bags, so confirm departure details and arrive early.

Key points to know before boarding

• Three proper swim stops: You get about 90 minutes at Blue Lagoon, one hour at Crystal Lagoon, and one hour at Halfa Rock.
• A cave-and-rock route: The boat passes Smuggler’s Cave, Santa Maria Caves, Poppy’s Cave, Lovers Cave, Coral Lagoon, and Elephant Rock.
• A 10 a.m. start: Meet at the Mellieha Bay Tunny Net Jetty, about a 10-minute walk from Mellieha centre and close to Starbucks.
• Cash is useful: Drinks, cocktails, snacks, snorkel masks, and the optional fast powerboat cave tour cost extra.
• Best for confident swimmers: This is built around swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing, not extensive sightseeing on land.
• A crowd-sensitive choice: The route is appealing, but an earlier departure and limited space can affect comfort.

Starting at Mellieha Bay at 10 a.m.

The day begins at the Mellieha Bay Tunny Net Jetty, with the activity operating under the Oh Yeah Malta name. From Mellieha centre, the meeting point is about a 10-minute walk. It is behind Starbucks at Mellieha Bay, roughly 100 metres away.

That location is useful if you are staying in Mellieha, but do not cut it close. The boat is scheduled to leave at 10 a.m., and one passenger had trouble after traffic caused a late arrival. The customer service team did not reach the boat before it left, although the local provider helped by taking the passenger out on a fast boat to catch up.

That story offers two practical lessons. First, allow extra time for traffic and finding the jetty. Second, keep the provider’s contact details handy and aim to arrive well before boarding. The boat may leave on time, or possibly a little early, and the water is not a place to sort out a missed departure.

The boat returns to the same meeting point at about 4 p.m. This makes the trip a straightforward six-hour outing, with no separate transport back to your hotel.

The opening cruise past Comino’s rocks and caves

The first part is a sightseeing cruise around Comino. You pass Mellieha Bay, Ghar Ic-Comb, Coral Lagoon, and Elephant Rock before reaching the cave area.

Ghar Ic-Comb receives only a short visit of about five minutes, so think of it as a quick look and photo opportunity rather than a stop for exploration. Coral Lagoon is also viewed from the boat. These brief pauses work well if you want a broad look at Comino’s coastline, but they are not the reason to book this trip.

Elephant Rock is a more memorable landmark. The rock formation gives the route a useful visual marker and makes a good photograph from the water. The boat also visits or passes by several cave sites, including Smuggler’s Cave and Santa Maria Caves. Poppy’s Cave and Lovers Cave are included as part of the boat route as well.

Santa Maria Caves receive around 10 minutes for photographs and sightseeing. The time is short, but the boat-based view lets you see the rock openings without giving up one of the longer swim stops. If caves are your main interest, you can pay an optional €15 for a fast powerboat cave tour. That is an extra purchase, not part of the $34 fare.

Blue Lagoon gives you the longest swim

The first major stop is Blue Lagoon, where you have about 1.5 hours for swimming, snorkeling, walking, and general sightseeing. This is the longest pause of the day, and it is the point where the schedule feels least rushed.

You can get into the water from the boat and spend the stop swimming and looking beneath the surface. You can also walk on Comino during this break. That flexibility matters because not everyone in a group wants to spend the full 90 minutes in the water.

Bring your own towel, swimwear, sunglasses, and sun protection. The information provided does not specify a beach setup or a reserved section of shore, so you should plan for a boat-based swimming stop rather than a traditional beach day.

Blue Lagoon is also likely to be the busiest part of the route. The tour gives you a healthy amount of time there, but it cannot remove the popularity of the place. If you want a quiet, secluded swim, this may not be the right experience. If you want the chance to see the lagoon while also visiting less familiar bays, the stop is more useful.

Crystal Lagoon is a shorter, water-first stop

After Blue Lagoon, the boat heads to Crystal Lagoon for about one hour of swimming and snorkeling. The stop has less time than Blue Lagoon, and there is no listed walking period here, so expect a focused water break.

This part suits you if swimming is the main purpose of your day. You get another chance to enter clear water, use a mask, and see marine life from the surface. You may rent a mask and snorkel on board for €5, or bring your own equipment.

The one-hour limit helps keep the day moving, but it also means you should be ready to get in quickly. Have your towel and swimwear accessible, rather than buried under a bag. The boat has toilets and showers, which are useful after several saltwater stops.

The word Crystal in the name should not lead you to expect a private cove. The trip visits a popular part of the Comino area, and conditions can vary. The value here is the extra swim stop, not a promise of solitude.

Halfa Rock in Gozo adds a third bay

The final major stop is Halfa Rock Bay in Gozo, where you spend another hour swimming, snorkeling, and watching marine life. This gives the tour a wider reach than a Comino-only outing.

By this stage, you will already have spent a good deal of time in the water. That is ideal for a confident swimmer who wants a full day outdoors, but it may feel long if you prefer sightseeing from a shaded seat. The schedule is clearly designed around repeated water stops, not a slow lunch in a village or an extended visit on land.

Halfa Rock also gives you a change of setting. You are not simply returning to the same lagoon after a short cruise. The route links Comino’s bays with a swim stop near Gozo, while still returning you to Malta the same afternoon.

Bring a dry layer for the ride back. The provided information specifically advises beachwear, a towel, sunglasses, sun cream, and cash, but a light covering is also sensible after several swims.

What is included, and what costs extra

At $34 per person, this is a reasonably priced way to spend most of a day on the water, provided you want swimming more than luxury. The fare covers:

• The boat trip around Comino’s bays and caves
• About 90 minutes at Blue Lagoon
• One hour at Crystal Lagoon
• One hour at Halfa Rock Bay in Gozo
• Visits or pass-bys at Smuggler’s Cave, Santa Maria Caves, Poppy’s Cave, Lovers Cave, and Elephant Rock
• Light snacks
• Toilets and showers
• An English-speaking live guide

The on-board bar serves drinks and cocktails, but these are available for purchase at the cash bar. Food is also available on board for an extra charge. Bring cash, since that is specifically advised for the day.

Snorkel equipment is available to rent for a small charge of €5. If you already own a mask, bringing it may be simpler. The optional fast powerboat cave tour costs €15 and gives cave visits a more active format, but you do not need to buy it to enjoy the main cruise.

The phrase light snacks is important. Do not treat the included food as a full lunch. If you need a substantial meal, buy food on board if available or eat before departure. The schedule has three swim stops, but no separate lunch break is listed.

Comfort, space, and the overcrowding concern

The biggest question is not the route. It is how comfortable the boat will feel on the day you go.

One passenger described the boat as extremely crowded, with no useful place to put a bag and little more than standing room. The same account criticized the number of bookings, though it also noted that the local provider was kind and helpful after the missed departure. That is a serious point to consider for a six-hour outing.

A crowded boat affects more than your seat. You may have less room to change, store a towel, dry off, or sit comfortably between stops. It can also make boarding and getting back into the boat slower. Since the supplied details do not give a maximum group size or boat capacity, you cannot judge the space in advance from the price alone.

You can reduce some of the hassle by bringing only a small soft bag, arriving early, and keeping essentials together. A towel, cash, phone, sunscreen, and snorkel gear should be easy to reach. Avoid carrying glass, sharp objects, weapons, explosives, or anything that could create a fire risk. Electric wheelchairs are not accepted.

The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Repeated water entries, boat movement, and the lack of accessible arrangements make that limitation important rather than minor.

Is this the right Malta boat trip for you?

I would choose this trip if you want a swimming-focused day with three separate bays and a broad Comino route. The long Blue Lagoon stop is especially useful, and the combination of Comino caves, Elephant Rock, Crystal Lagoon, and Halfa Rock gives you more variety than a short lagoon transfer.

It is also a good match if you like a casual boat atmosphere with a bar, cocktails, light snacks, showers, and toilets. At $34, the inclusion of several hours of water time makes the fare attractive. You pay extra for drinks, food, snorkel equipment, and the fast cave tour, so your final cost depends on how much you add.

I would think twice if you need guaranteed personal space, a quiet boat, a full meal, or an accessible setup. The crowding report is not something to ignore, especially since you will spend roughly six hours on board. This is a practical excursion rather than a premium cruise.

The English-speaking guide can explain the route, but no individual guide name is provided. The operator’s stated approach is friendly and family-like, and the strongest practical sign of good service is that the local provider helped a late passenger reach the boat by fast boat. Still, that assistance came after a difficult start, so it is wiser to prevent the problem with an early arrival.

Book it for the water time, not just the photographs

Book this Comino and Gozo cruise if you want to swim often, enjoy a simple day at sea, and see several caves and rock formations without arranging separate transport. The three swim stops are the real value, with Blue Lagoon offering the longest break and Halfa Rock giving the day a final change of scene.

Skip it if you want a small-group sailing trip, a peaceful cove, or a long shore visit. Before paying, check the current departure details and arrive early at the Mellieha Bay jetty. With that caution in mind, this is a strong low-cost choice for active swimmers who prefer a full itinerary over a quiet boat ride.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start?

The meeting point is at the Mellieha Bay Tunny Net Jetty, under the Oh Yeah Malta name. It is about a 10-minute walk from Mellieha centre and roughly 100 metres behind Starbucks at Mellieha Bay.

What time does the cruise depart?

The cruise departs at 10 a.m. and returns to the meeting point at about 4 p.m.

How long is the Blue Lagoon stop?

The Blue Lagoon stop lasts approximately 1.5 hours. You can swim, snorkel, walk on Comino, or spend the time sightseeing.

How long are the other swimming stops?

The Crystal Lagoon stop lasts one hour. The Halfa Rock Bay stop near Gozo also lasts one hour.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

No. A mask and snorkel can be rented on board for a small charge of €5.

Are food and drinks included?

Light snacks are served, but food and drinks from the cash bar, including cocktails, cost extra.

Is the fast cave tour included?

No. The fast powerboat cave tour is an optional add-on costing €15.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel, beachwear, sunglasses, sun cream, and cash. These items are useful for the swimming stops and on-board purchases.

Is the activity suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.