Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour

The best thing about this outing is its two-part design: you see Gozo by open-air jeep, then approach Comino from the water. The jeep reaches places that are awkward to visit on your own, including the Xwejni Salt Pans, Calypso Cave, Qala, and Dwejra Bay. George, Sam, Mario, Joe Vella, and Johnny are among the guides praised for adding humor and local detail.

I especially like the freshly prepared buffet lunch with local wine and water, and the chance to swim at both Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon. The main caution is pace. This is a lot of Malta in 6.5 hours, and pickup delays, weather changes, or ferry connections can stretch the day and leave some stops feeling brief.

Key points at a glance

• Two major sights in one day: Combine Gozo’s villages and bays with Comino’s famous swimming spots.
• A jeep reaches the island’s out-of-the-way corners: Visit salt pans, caves, viewpoints, and Dwejra without arranging separate transport.
• Lunch is part of the package: Expect a buffet with local wine and mineral water, served on the boat or at Mariblu Restaurant on Gozo.
• Swimming time matters: Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon usually receive about an hour each, though conditions can change the plan.
• The boat cave trip costs extra: A short dinghy ride through a cliff tunnel is optional and costs €10 per person.
• Come ready for a long, active day: Wear sturdy shoes, bring swimwear and a towel, and leave room in your schedule after the stated finish.

Why this Gozo and Comino combination works

At $101 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see either island. It can be good value if you want transport, a guide, lunch, wine, swimming stops, ferry tickets when needed, and a boat return bundled together.

The alternative is piecing together buses, ferries, taxis, and separate boat trips. That may cost less, but it also takes more planning. This excursion is aimed at convenience and coverage. You will not study one village for half a day. Instead, you get a broad look at Gozo, then a scenic water outing around Comino.

The day is led by multilingual drivers who explain the sites in English, German, Italian, Maltese, French, Polish, Hungarian, or Spanish. The quality of the day depends heavily on your individual driver. George, Sam, Mario, Johnny, Steve, Sandro, Peter, and Joe Vella are specifically noted as friendly, funny, or informative guides. Their role is important because the jeep section moves quickly.

Pickup across Malta and the trip to Gozo

Hotel pickup is offered from a large number of points around Malta, including Sliema, St. Julian’s, Valletta, Bugibba, Qawra, Mellieha, and several resort hotels. You are asked to wait outside the main entrance or at the stated pickup point, so check the exact location carefully.

The transfer to the boat or ferry area takes about an hour. This is useful for visitors without a car, but it also means the advertised 6.5 hours does not include every minute of getting from your hotel and back. One important practical issue is communication: pickup points can change, and not every passenger receives the change clearly. Confirm the pickup place and boat name before the morning begins.

The group may be divided into two sections. One group starts with the Gozo jeep tour while the other takes the Comino boat trip, then they switch. This keeps the combined program moving, but it means your order is not guaranteed.

The boat ride to Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon

When the weather cooperates, the trip may use a twin-masted schooner rather than a standard ferry. That makes the crossing part of the sightseeing, with open water views before the main stops. Rough conditions can change this arrangement, and the boat tour is subject to weather.

Crystal Lagoon is usually one of the first major stops. You get time for photographs and swimming, with masks and snorkels available on board at no extra charge. The water is the star here, but bring realistic expectations: outside the warm summer season, swimming may be brief. One account describes water around 15°C, which is cold enough to make the hour feel long if you prefer staying dry.

Blue Lagoon follows, with another photo and swim stop. The setting is famous for its clear water and pale rock, but the area can become crowded. Starting with the boat section in the morning may give you a calmer visit, according to the schedule some groups receive. You may also remain on the boat rather than walking ashore, depending on where it anchors.

This is a scenic boat stop, not a guided walking visit around Comino. If you want a long island walk, ask how close the boat will be to land. Some departures do not make it easy to reach the shore.

The optional caves beneath Comino

The boat passes several caves and cliff formations on the return route. A small dinghy can take you through a tunnel in the rock for an additional €10 per person. The outing also includes the so-called topless cave, where the roof has fallen away, and a longer cave below Comino’s fortress.

The long cave is associated with the filming location for The Count of Monte Cristo. That detail gives the rock formations a bit of film interest, but the cave trip remains optional and is not included in the $101 price.

If you choose it, carry cash or confirm the payment method before boarding. If you skip it, you still see the caves from the main boat, subject to weather and the captain’s route.

Gozo by jeep, from Qala to the salt pans

The Gozo portion is the heart of the tour for many people. Open-air jeeps carry you along roads and routes that would be difficult to cover by public transport in a single half-day. You sit with other passengers, listen to the driver, and get out for short visits and photographs.

The first Gozo stop may be Mgarr Harbour, the island’s main arrival point. From there, the route can include Belle Vedere and Qala, where you get views and a quick introduction to the eastern side of Gozo. These stops are short, usually around 20 minutes, so think of them as orientation points rather than extended village visits.

Calypso Cave near Xaghra provides another photo stop. The route also passes the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu. The basilica is listed as a pass-by stop, not a full interior visit, so do not expect time to explore it at length.

At Xwejni Salt Pans, the guide explains an old coastal working tradition. The pans are a particularly good stop for photographs because they show how Gozo’s coast has been used beyond beaches and swimming. You have about 20 minutes here, which is enough for a look but not a long walk.

Dwejra Bay and the Gozo scenery

Dwejra Bay brings the tour to one of Gozo’s most recognizable coastal areas. You get a photo stop, a short visit, and guided commentary. The route may also offer an optional boat trip on the inland sea at Dwejra Bay, but that activity is not included.

This is where the jeep tour feels most useful. Dwejra is far easier with organized transport than with a tight public bus schedule, especially when you still need to reach lunch and the boat. You will see the famous coastal setting, but the short timing means you should not expect a leisurely walk around every viewpoint.

The jeep route is best understood as a sampler. It gives you a feel for Gozo’s bays, villages, caves, shrines, and working coast. If your priority is a deep visit to the Ġgantija Temples, this is not the right excursion. Entry to the temples is not included, and the half-day jeep program does not visit them as a full stop.

Lunch, wine, and the midday break

Lunch is a substantial part of the value. You receive a buffet with local wine and mineral water, with the meal served either on the boat or at Mariblu Restaurant on Gozo, depending on the day’s order.

The food has been described as plentiful and tasty, though one assessment found it ordinary. Expect practical group-tour dining rather than a carefully paced restaurant meal. The buffet can include dishes such as pasta, rice, salad, and bread, based on the meal described during the tour. Pescatarian needs were accommodated for one group, but you should still communicate dietary requirements when booking.

Unlimited local wine and water help the price make more sense, particularly if you would otherwise buy lunch and drinks separately. Tea, coffee, extra drinks, and other purchases are not included.

Timing, group flow, and the real length of the day

The stated duration is 6.5 hours, with starting times shown according to availability. The planned stops include about an hour at Crystal Lagoon, an hour at Blue Lagoon, a lunch or free-time break, and a series of 10 to 20-minute Gozo visits.

That schedule is efficient but tight. The group may wait for passengers arriving from Malta, transfer between boats and jeeps, or pick up people from many hotels. Some departures have taken longer than expected, with a return close to 6 pm and a missed dinner reservation. I would avoid booking an evening restaurant reservation too close to the advertised end time.

There can also be a wait at the ferry area while the Malta group arrives. One account describes losing roughly 1.5 hours this way, followed by rushed sightseeing. This may not happen on every departure, but it is enough reason to leave your evening open.

The order of activities can change. One group may boat first, which can mean less crowded lagoons. Another may jeep first and reach the water later. Weather can also force the company to replace the schooner with the regular ferry or rearrange the stops.

What the guides add to the day

The individual driver makes a real difference. Guides named George, Sam, Mario, Johnny, Steve, Sandro, Peter, and Joe Vella received particularly strong praise for humor, kindness, island knowledge, and personal attention.

Sam was especially helpful after a jeep problem at arrival, taking over the back-road tour and stopping at requested points. George was praised for explaining Gozo’s sites and history while keeping the drive entertaining. Mario was described as funny and kind, while Johnny was noted as sweet and amusing.

Do not expect the same guide on every departure. The useful takeaway is that the jeep driver is more than a driver. You are relying on that person to make short stops meaningful, explain what you are seeing, and keep the group on schedule.

What to bring and who should skip it

Wear comfortable shoes with good grip. The day includes boat boarding, jeep stops, coastal viewpoints, and possible uneven ground. Pack a sun hat, sunscreen, camera, swimsuit, and towel.

This is a poor match for pregnant women, wheelchair users, and people with mobility impairments. The combination of transfers, boat access, open-air jeeps, and short stops requires a reasonable level of mobility.

Families should bring proof of age for children under 12. A copy of the child’s passport is required to show that the age condition is met.

You should also keep your belongings secure during swimming stops. The supplied information does not promise a locker service, so bring only what you are comfortable carrying around the boat and jeeps.

Is $101 a fair price?

I think the price is fair if you want an all-in-one day and value ease over independence. Hotel pickup, return transfers, Gozo transport, experienced drivers, lunch, wine, water, lagoon stops, and the boat ride cover many separate costs.

The value drops if you mainly want to swim. The lagoons may be crowded, the water can be cold outside summer, and weather may remove the schooner or change the route. A separate beach or boat day could give you more time in the water.

The price also does not include the Comino cave dinghy, Dwejra inland-sea boat, Ġgantija entrance, museums, tea, coffee, or extra drinks. Add those costs only if they matter to your plan.

Should you book this Gozo and Comino tour?

Book it if you have limited time in Malta and want a broad introduction to Gozo without renting a car. It is particularly good for first-time visitors who want villages, salt pans, coastal sites, a buffet lunch, and Comino’s lagoons in one organized day.

I would choose it in warm weather, when the swim stops are more appealing and the boat ride has a better chance of running as planned. I would also keep the evening free in case transfers run late.

Skip it if you prefer slow travel, long museum visits, independent walks, or guaranteed timing. For everyone else, the combination of capable jeep guides, unusual Gozo stops, and a boat return around Comino makes this a useful, busy, and generally good-value introduction to Malta’s two smaller islands.

FAQ

How long does the Gozo and Comino tour last?

The stated duration is 6.5 hours. Starting times depend on availability, but you should allow extra time around hotel pickups, transfers, ferry connections, and possible delays.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is available from many hotels and meeting points across Malta. Wait outside the main hotel entrance or at the pickup point provided by the local partner.

What languages are available?

The tour offers guides or drivers speaking English, German, Italian, Maltese, French, Polish, Hungarian, and Spanish.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes a buffet, local wine, and mineral water. Depending on the order of the day, it is served on the boat or at Mariblu Restaurant on Gozo.

Are swimming stops included?

Yes. The boat trip includes stops at Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon, subject to weather and operational conditions. A Gozo bay swim stop is included during the summer season.

Are masks and snorkels provided?

Masks and snorkels are available for free on board the boat.

Does the tour include the Comino cave trip?

No. The optional dinghy trip through the cave tunnel costs €10 per person. The optional inland-sea boat trip at Dwejra Bay is also not included.

Is entry to the Ġgantija Temples included?

No. Entrance to the Ġgantija Temples and museums is not included, and the half-day jeep route does not provide a full temple visit.

Can children join the tour?

Children can join, but those under 12 must prove their age with a copy of their passport. The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, or people with mobility impairments.