Photo Shoots Adventure – Trips in Lovers Cave, Gozo & Comino

Comino’s best scenery is often found away from the busiest part of the Blue Lagoon, and this two-hour private charter gives you a boat, a skipper, and room to shape the outing around your group. I like the chance to reach Lovers Cave and smaller coves that larger boat trips may pass by. I also like the freedom to stop for swimming and underwater photos in clear water, rather than follow a fixed sightseeing script.

The main catch is the pricing. The advertised $104 covers the boat for up to six people, but the professional skipper and fuel each cost €49 extra. You also need to bring your own food, drinks, and photographer if polished photo-shoot results are your goal.

Key points at a glance

• Lovers Cave is a signature stop: Your skipper can take you inside this cave to see its clear water and use the rock setting for photos.
• The boat is private for up to six people: You are paying per boat, not per passenger, which can make the cost sensible for a small group.
• The route can change with sea conditions: The skipper may alter stops, timing, or departure points if wind, tides, shallow water, or other conditions require it.
• April to June helps with photography: This period comes before the busiest summer beach crowds, while early morning and late afternoon offer the best light.
• Snorkelling gear is included: A mask and snorkel are supplied, along with safety equipment, a canopy, cooler, WiFi, and a Bluetooth speaker.
• The photographer is not included: You can create your own images, but professional photography must be arranged separately.

What this two-hour cruise is really about

This is less a standard sightseeing cruise and more a floating photo session with swimming stops. You hire the whole boat, then travel along parts of Malta, Comino, and Gozo in search of striking water, rock, and cave settings.

The short duration matters. Two hours is enough for a focused outing around Comino and nearby Gozo, but it is not a full-day cruise covering every major inlet. If you want many stops, a long lunch, fishing, or a full coastal circuit, you should ask about a longer charter before booking.

You can use the trip for several purposes. Couples may want romantic images around Lovers Cave or the Blue Lagoon. Families can combine sightseeing with a swim. Small groups can use the boat as a private base for snorkelling and casual pictures without sharing space with a large crowd.

The tour is available throughout the year, but conditions and light will shape the experience. April through June is suggested for photography because the beaches are generally less crowded than during the peak summer period. Early morning gives you softer light and calmer-looking scenes, while late afternoon can bring warm light and sunset photographs.

Leaving from Gozo or Cirkewwa

There are two meeting areas, and choosing the right one is important.

From Gozo, the departure point is in Mgarr Harbour, close to Sicilia Bella Restaurant at the Mgarr Harbour Terminal. From Malta, the meeting point is in Cirkewwa, close to the Cirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal.

You should arrive 30 minutes before departure. That buffer is useful because traffic, harbour movement, or simply finding the correct meeting area can take time. If you arrive late, the charter does not receive extra time, so this is not an outing to approach casually.

Pickup is included from the designated meeting point, but the information provided does not describe broader hotel pickup across Malta or Gozo. Check the exact departure point when you reserve, especially if you are staying far from Cirkewwa or Mgarr.

A separate entrance is available for the boat activity, which helps keep the meeting process simple. The live guide service is offered in English and Maltese.

The boat setup and what it means for your group

The boat includes comfortable seating areas and a sun deck. A canopy provides shade, an important detail when you are sitting on open water with limited shelter from the sun.

You also receive safety equipment, port and marina fees, lagoon permits, an ice cooler, free WiFi, and a Bluetooth speaker. These extras are practical rather than decorative. The cooler lets you keep your own drinks cold, while the shaded area gives you a break from direct sun between photo stops.

Snorkelling equipment includes a mask and snorkel. That means you do not need to pack those basic items, though you should still bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and cash.

The boat is private for your group, with a maximum of six people. That arrangement changes the feel of the trip. You can ask for more time at a particular photo spot, spend less time at one that does not suit your group, and avoid sharing the boat with strangers.

The skipper has the final say on the route and safety of the trip. Weather, wind, tides, shallow water, and other sea conditions can lead to changes in the itinerary, departure point, or schedule. That flexibility is sensible around Comino, but you should not book this expecting every listed location to be guaranteed.

Comino, the Blue Lagoon, and Crystal Lagoon

Comino is the main reason to book this outing. Its rocky coast, clear water, small coves, and caves provide the visual variety needed for a useful photo session within two hours.

The Blue Lagoon is the famous stop. Its pale, clear water can make a strong background for swimming photos, shoreline images, and underwater pictures. The drawback is that it is one of the best-known places in the area, so it can feel busy during the main summer season.

A private boat helps you approach the Blue Lagoon without committing to a crowded beach visit. Still, private does not mean the entire lagoon is reserved for you. For quieter photographs, ask the skipper about timing and nearby coves rather than treating the Blue Lagoon as your only stop.

Crystal Lagoon is another useful location for underwater images. The supplied details describe clear water suitable for photographing marine life and the seafloor. You may see coral and other sea life, though specific sightings cannot be guaranteed.

The quality of underwater photos depends on the light, sea conditions, and your own equipment. A phone in a waterproof case may be fine for casual images, while serious underwater work requires you to bring suitable gear. The tour supplies mask and snorkel, not a camera or professional underwater photographer.

Lovers Cave and Popeye’s Cave for memorable pictures

Lovers Cave is one of the most distinctive parts of the outing. The boat can take you inside the cave, where the clear water and rock walls create a more intimate setting than an open beach.

This stop works especially well for couples, but families and small groups can also make use of it. Keep your expectations practical: cave photography requires attention to light, positioning, and water movement. The skipper can bring you to the location and point out good areas, but the final quality of the photos depends on your camera, timing, and the person taking them.

Popeye’s Cave adds another type of background. It offers a natural rock setting and a chance to frame the water and coastline from a different angle. These cave stops are valuable because they give your photo collection more variety than a series of nearly identical beach shots.

One especially useful feature is the skipper’s local route knowledge. On a windy day, the skipper may adjust the course and still find workable places for pictures and swimming. That matters more than simply ticking off names on a route plan.

Swimming and snorkelling in clear water

Swimming is built into the experience, but it remains subject to sea conditions and the skipper’s judgment. The boat can stop at suitable locations around Comino and Gozo, allowing you to get into the water or take underwater photos.

The included mask and snorkel make this easy for a casual swim. You should bring your own fins, underwater camera, or other specialist equipment if you need them, since those items are not listed among the inclusions.

The water is a major part of the appeal. Clear turquoise conditions can reveal rock formations and marine life below the surface. The activity information refers to coral reefs and sea turtles as possible subjects, but wildlife is never guaranteed. Treat those as photographic possibilities, not promised sightings.

A swim stop may be shorter than you expect on a two-hour charter. Every minute spent in the water is a minute not spent at a cave or another viewpoint. Before leaving, tell the skipper if swimming, underwater photos, or dry-land portraits matter most to you.

How the photo-shoot element works

This is a photo-friendly boat charter, not a package with a professional photographer. No photographer is included, so you need to bring someone who can take the pictures or arrange a separate service.

That distinction affects the value. If you already have a good phone or camera and a willing photographer in your group, the boat gives you access to attractive settings and flexible movement between them. If you want a guided portrait session with lighting, posing, edited files, and professional underwater work, the advertised price does not cover the whole job.

The skipper can help identify locations and may take you close to useful angles. The route includes settings for different types of shoots, from cave and couple portraits to family pictures and underwater images.

For the best results, plan before boarding. Decide if you want sunset photos, swimming pictures, group portraits, or a relaxed cruise. Bring a waterproof phone case or camera housing if you intend to photograph in the water. Pack a towel and dry bag if you have one, although a dry bag is not listed as an inclusion.

The skipper’s role and the value of a private charter

The skipper is central to this experience. The available feedback describes the skipper as friendly, professional, steady in windy conditions, and informative about the area. One family outing around Comino and the south coast of Gozo included several photo locations and a trip inside a cave despite windy weather.

Those details give you a realistic picture of the service. The skipper is not just steering from one named attraction to another. The skipper can adjust the course, manage the boat steadily, and select safer or more attractive locations when conditions change.

You should also understand the limits of that role. The skipper has authority to cancel, postpone, modify, or change the route when weather and sea conditions make it necessary. That can be disappointing if a particular cave is your main reason for booking, but it is the correct approach on open water.

A private charter is most valuable when your group has shared priorities. Six people who all want photographs and swimming can use the two hours efficiently. A mixed group, with some wanting a quiet cruise and others wanting repeated swims, may need to agree on a plan before setting off.

Price, extra charges, and overall value

The listed price is $104 per group of up to six people, not $104 per person. For six people, that is a strong starting price for a private boat, especially when compared with paying individual fares on a shared excursion.

But the headline figure is not the final cost. A professional skipper costs €49, and fuel consumption costs another €49. Food, drinks, barbecue items, fishing gear, and a photographer are also separate. Make sure you include those extras when comparing this charter with other private boat trips.

The inclusions do add practical value. You receive the boat, seating, sun deck, canopy, safety gear, permits, port and marina fees, cooler, WiFi, speaker, and basic snorkelling equipment. You are not being charged separately for lagoon permits or harbour fees.

I would consider this good value for a small group that wants privacy and a short, focused outing. For only two people, the extra skipper and fuel charges may make the total less attractive than a shared cruise. For four to six people, the cost spreads better and the private format becomes easier to justify.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend it to couples who want scenic photographs, families seeking a private swim and sightseeing trip, and small groups that dislike crowded boats.

It suits you especially well if you want to choose the balance between caves, swimming, snorkelling, and photographs. The private format also helps if you need shade, prefer a quieter outing, or want to bring your own music through the Bluetooth speaker.

It is less suitable if you want a full-day cruise, a guaranteed visit to every named location, professional photography included, or a large meal on board. The trip is only two hours, and the route can change with weather and sea conditions.

The best match is a flexible group that sees the boat as a way to reach good settings, not as a formal photography studio. Bring your own camera, plan your priorities, and let the skipper adjust the route when needed.

Should you book the Comino photo boat?

Book it if you value privacy, clear water, cave settings, and the chance to shape a short trip around your group. Lovers Cave, Crystal Lagoon, the Blue Lagoon, and Popeye’s Cave give you several different photo backgrounds, while the private boat keeps the outing personal.

Before paying, confirm the total cost with the €49 skipper fee and €49 fuel charge. Choose an early or late departure for better light, consider April through June for fewer beach crowds, and arrive 30 minutes early at Mgarr or Cirkewwa.

If you need a professional photographer, food, drinks, fishing equipment, or a barbecue, arrange those separately. With those limits understood, this is a focused and flexible way to see Comino and nearby Gozo from the water.

FAQ

How long is the private boat trip?

The charter lasts two hours. Starting times depend on availability.

How many people can join the boat?

The price applies to one private boat for a group of up to six people.

Where does the boat leave from?

In Gozo, the meeting area is near Sicilia Bella Restaurant at Mgarr Harbour Terminal. In Malta, it is near Cirkewwa Kiosk in the Gozo Channel Terminal.

Is a skipper included in the advertised price?

A professional skipper is not included in the advertised price. The listed additional cost for the skipper is €49.

Is fuel included?

Fuel is not included. The listed additional cost for fuel consumption is €49.

Is a photographer provided?

No. A photographer is not included, so you need to bring your own photographer or camera operator.

What places might the boat visit?

The trip can include Comino, the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Lovers Cave, Popeye’s Cave, parts of Gozo, and Malta’s coastline. The skipper may change the route because of weather, tides, shallow water, or other valid reasons.

Is snorkelling equipment included?

Yes. A mask and snorkel are included. Other fishing or specialist equipment is not included.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and cash. You should also bring your own food and drinks if needed.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, according to the booking terms.