Private Boat Charter Comino, Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Gozo

Comino’s Santa Maria Caves are the special part of this private charter. A smaller boat can slip into narrow cave passages that larger sightseeing boats cannot reach, giving you close views of rock formations, clear water, and marine life. From there, you get time to swim and snorkel at Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon.

I like the small private group, which lets you spend more time in quiet water and less time following a crowd. I also like the flexible feel of the day: you can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, or simply enjoy the coast from the boat, with Captain Bufon praised for adding useful information along the way.

The main consideration is the price, $786.40 for up to seven people. It makes much better sense for a full group than for one or two people, and the Gozo option gives you less time at each Comino lagoon than the Comino-only version.

Key points to know before booking

• Santa Maria Caves by small boat: Enter narrow cave passages that larger boats cannot access.
• Two Comino lagoons: Spend about 1.5 hours each at Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon on the Comino option.
• Gozo choice: Add Ramla Bay and San Blas Bay, or Mgarr ix-Xini, with about two hours for swimming and time by the coast.
• Private for up to seven: Your group has the boat to itself, rather than sharing the day with a large crowd.
• Captain Bufon: He is specifically praised for making the trip relaxing, interesting, and easy to enjoy at your own pace.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund, while cancellations made at least 24 hours ahead receive a full refund.

Why a private boat changes the Comino day

Comino is famous for Blue Lagoon, but the best part of a boat day is seeing more than one postcard view. This charter links Sliema, the coast near Marks & Dukes Window, Smugglers Cave, the Santa Maria Caves, two lagoons, and an optional stretch of Gozo.

A private boat also changes the rhythm. You are not tied to a fixed group schedule once you reach the swimming areas. You can get into the water, climb back aboard to dry off, snorkel again, or stay put and enjoy the views. That matters in Malta, where a seven-hour day under the sun can feel long if every minute is tightly managed.

The group limit is seven people. That is small enough for a family or a circle of friends to share the boat without the usual crowd around you. It also spreads the cost in a more sensible way. At $786.40 per group, seven people pay about $112 each before any other personal expenses. For two people, the same charter becomes a much heavier cost.

The experience is listed at about seven hours, so treat it as a full day on the water rather than a quick outing. Bring the right attitude for a boat trip: the main rewards are coast views, swimming, snorkeling, caves, and time outdoors, not a long stop in towns or museums.

Leaving Sliema for the Maltese coast

The meeting point is Ferries 2Malta along the Strand Sliema. Sliema is a practical starting point, and the first part of the trip takes about 35 minutes along Malta’s coast.

This opening ride gives you time to settle in and enjoy the shoreline from the water. It is also a useful reminder that the boat itself is part of the experience. You are not simply being transported to Comino. You are getting changing views of the Maltese coast on the way there and again during the return.

Because the tour starts and ends at the same Sliema meeting point, you do not need to arrange a separate return from another island. The end of the day includes about 40 minutes back to Sliema from the final stop.

Marks & Dukes Window and Smugglers Cave

The route passes Marks & Dukes Window and includes a stop at Smugglers Cave. The combined time listed for this section is about 45 minutes.

Smugglers Cave gives the day an early taste of the coast’s smaller, more tucked-away formations before the charter reaches Comino. You can expect rocky cliffs, openings in the shoreline, and water close enough to inspect from the boat. The exact amount of time spent in or around the cave can depend on conditions and the captain’s handling of the boat, so do not treat the timing as a rigid promise for every minute.

This is one place where a private charter has a clear advantage. A small boat can get closer to formations and pause for photographs without being part of a large vessel’s broad circuit. If you enjoy taking pictures, keep your phone or camera ready, but protect it from spray. The information provided does not specify waterproof storage or onboard equipment, so bring your own secure protection.

Santa Maria Caves by narrow passage

The Santa Maria Caves are the most unusual stop on the route. The boat can enter inside the caves, moving through passages that larger boats cannot use.

You will see unusual rock shapes, steep stone walls, clear turquoise water, and marine life beneath the surface. The close view makes this more than a quick coastal photo stop. You are looking into the cave from water level, with the boat navigating through narrow sections and natural openings.

This stop suits anyone who likes unusual geology and photography. The changing light inside the caves can make the rock formations especially attractive, although the experience depends on the sea being suitable for entry. A private captain can judge the conditions and handle the smaller approach, but no cave visit should be treated as guaranteed in rough weather.

The caves also help explain why a private charter can be worth more than a standard shared cruise. The value is not only privacy. It is access to places where a larger boat cannot go. That is a real difference, especially if you have already seen Malta’s coast from a ferry or large sightseeing vessel.

Blue Lagoon: beautiful, busy, and worth timing well

At Blue Lagoon, the boat anchors for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and time on the water. On the Comino option, you get about 1.5 hours here. On the Gozo and Comino option, the stop is about one hour.

The water is the main attraction. It is clear enough for snorkeling, and the bright color makes Blue Lagoon one of Malta’s most recognizable places. From your boat, you can choose between getting in for a swim and staying aboard to enjoy the view without standing on a crowded shore.

The shorter one-hour stop on the Gozo option is important. You still get a taste of Blue Lagoon, but you will have less time to swim, dry off, and settle into the place. If your priority is enjoying Comino at an unhurried pace, the Comino-only version gives you more time at both lagoons.

Blue Lagoon is also the stop where the private format may feel most valuable. Instead of searching for a patch of shore or trying to keep up with a large group, you have a boat base for your own party. You can move between the water and the deck as you please.

Still, private does not mean secluded at Blue Lagoon. The site is famous, and the surrounding water can attract many boats. The quieter moments are more likely to come from the flexibility of your own charter, especially when the captain chooses a suitable place to anchor.

Crystal Lagoon for snorkeling and shallow water

Crystal Lagoon is scheduled for about 1.5 hours on the Comino option and about one hour on the Gozo and Comino option. It is known for clear turquoise water, rocky cliffs, nearby vegetation, and shallow areas where you might see colorful fish and sea urchins.

For snorkeling, this can be the more appealing of the two Comino stops. The shallow water makes it easier to look down and spot marine life without needing a long swim. You should still take care around rocks and sea urchins, and you should follow the captain’s advice about where to enter the water.

The lagoon also offers a calmer contrast to Blue Lagoon. You get cliffs and clear water without the need to make the entire day about one famous stop. If you choose the Comino-only trip, the longer timing at Crystal Lagoon gives you room to snorkel, rest, and get back in without rushing.

The Gozo version is different. One hour at Crystal Lagoon can work well if you want a broad day that covers three locations, but it will feel brisker. You will need to decide in advance what matters most: longer swimming time at Comino or adding a larger section of Gozo.

Adding Gozo to the charter

The Gozo and Comino option takes you onward to Gozo after the Comino stops. Depending on the route, the boat heads toward Ramla Bay and San Blas Bay, or Mgarr ix-Xini.

You get about two hours around Gozo for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and enjoying the coast. This is not a land tour of Gozo, so you should not expect time to visit villages, churches, or inland sights. The appeal is the shoreline and the water.

Adding Gozo makes sense if you want a wider picture of Malta’s islands in one day. You will see Comino’s famous lagoons and then spend time along Gozo’s coast, giving the charter more variety than a Comino-only trip.

The tradeoff is time. Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon each lose roughly 30 minutes compared with the Comino option. Two hours at Gozo is a generous water stop, but you are exchanging depth for range. I would choose Gozo and Comino for a first full day when seeing several places matters most. I would choose Comino only if swimming and snorkeling are the main purpose.

Captain Bufon and the value of a private guide

The captain is more than the person steering the boat. Captain Bufon is specifically praised for making the day both relaxing and interesting, with information about the places along the route.

That combination matters. A boat day can become a simple transfer between swimming spots if nobody explains what you are seeing. At the same time, too much commentary can get in the way when you want quiet water and sun. The best balance is what this charter aims to offer: information when useful, then room to enjoy the coast at your own pace.

The private setup also means your group can set its own mood. You might spend more time snorkeling, or keep the cave and photo stops as the highlight. You are not sharing the boat with strangers who want a completely different day.

Keep in mind that the exact experience will depend on the captain, sea conditions, and your group’s choices. The praise for Bufon is a strong sign for the guiding side of the trip, but the booking information does not promise that he will operate every departure. If having a particular captain matters to you, ask A1 Boat Charters Malta before booking.

Is $786.40 a fair price?

The price is $786.40 for a private group of up to seven people. That is not a budget boat outing, but it is easier to justify when the boat is full.

For seven people, the cost is about $112 per person. At five people, it is about $157 per person. For two people, it works out to about $393 each. Those figures show who gets the best value: families, groups of friends, and parties that want privacy.

You are paying for more than a trip to Blue Lagoon. The package includes a roughly seven-hour coastal day, a private boat, small-cave access at Santa Maria, stops at Smugglers Cave, two Comino lagoons, and the option to add Gozo. The ability to spend time away from a fixed shared-tour schedule is another part of the value.

I would compare this with the cost of several separate activities before dismissing it as expensive. If you already want a private boat and a full day of swimming, the price can be reasonable for a group. If you mainly want a short look at Blue Lagoon, a less costly shared trip may suit you better.

Practical details for a smoother day

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is offered in English. The meeting point is Ferries 2Malta at Sliema Promenade, and the day finishes back there.

Most people can take part, and the meeting point is near public transportation. The information does not specify meals, snorkeling equipment, towels, or hotel pickup, so check with the operator before departure and plan your own supplies accordingly.

A mobile ticket is available, which is handy when you are heading to the Sliema meeting point. Since much of the day is spent in the sun and water, you will want practical swim-day clothing and a way to keep valuables dry. Those are sensible preparations rather than included features, so confirm exactly what A1 Boat Charters Malta supplies.

The tour depends on good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

The experience is popular enough that it is booked about 63 days ahead on average. That does not mean every date sells out, but it is a useful warning for summer planning and for larger groups that need a particular day.

Who should book this boat charter?

I would recommend it for a group of up to seven that wants a private day focused on swimming, snorkeling, caves, and coastal views. It is especially good for people who dislike large boat crowds and want the freedom to spend their time in the water or on deck.

Families can benefit from the private format because the day does not have to suit strangers. Friends who want photographs, several swimming stops, and a relaxed pace will also get good use from the boat.

Choose the Comino-only option if you want longer stops at Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon. Choose Gozo and Comino if you prefer a broader route and are happy with about one hour at each Comino lagoon plus two hours around Gozo.

I would hesitate to recommend it to a solo visitor or a couple unless privacy is worth a very high per-person cost. I would also think twice if your main goal is exploring Gozo on land, since the Gozo addition focuses on the coastline and water rather than inland sightseeing.

Should you book it?

Book this private Malta boat charter if your group can share the cost and you want more than a standard Blue Lagoon stop. The Santa Maria Caves, private boat, captain’s local information, and quiet swimming options give the day real character.

Choose the Comino-only version for the most relaxed lagoon day. Add Gozo when variety matters more than extra time at each Comino stop. The price is the key hurdle, but for a full group seeking a flexible seven-hour day, it can be a sensible splurge.

FAQ

Where does the boat charter start?

The charter starts at Ferries 2Malta on the Strand Sliema Promenade.

Where does the activity finish?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in Sliema.

How long is the boat charter?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours, including the return ride to Sliema.

How many people can join the private charter?

The price covers a private group of up to seven people.

Is the boat shared with other groups?

No. This is a private activity, so only your own group participates.

Does the charter visit the Blue Lagoon?

Yes. The boat anchors at Blue Lagoon for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and time on the water.

How long do you spend at Blue Lagoon?

You spend about 1.5 hours there on the Comino option, or about one hour on the Gozo and Comino option.

Does the boat stop at Crystal Lagoon?

Yes. Crystal Lagoon is included, with about 1.5 hours on the Comino option or about one hour on the Gozo and Comino option.

Can you add a visit to Gozo?

Yes. The Gozo and Comino option includes about two hours around Ramla Bay and San Blas Bay, or Mgarr ix-Xini, for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, and coastal exploration.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the activity is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.