St Julian’s: Half Day Comino Blue Lagoon & Cave Tour

The main appeal here is simple: you reach Comino’s Blue Lagoon by speedboat in about 45 minutes, rather than spending much of your half-day on a slower transfer. The ride also gives you views of Malta’s east coast and St Paul’s Islands before the water time begins.

I like the generous free period for swimming and sunbathing, and I like that the trip includes a look at St Maria’s Caves before returning to St George’s Bay. The catch is the speedboat itself. Several details make this a poor match for anyone with back trouble, motion sickness, or a low tolerance for a hard, fast ride over waves.

Key points to know before booking

• Blue Lagoon in 45 minutes: The speedboat gets you to Comino quickly, leaving more time for swimming and snorkeling.
• Four hours of free time: Your main stop is unstructured, so you can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, buy food, or rent a sunbed.
• Cave visit included: The boat passes St Maria’s Caves before heading back to Malta.
• Shared, open-air ride: This is not a private boat, and you must remain seated for the full trip.
• Safety deserves attention: Past passengers reported rough impacts on the return ride, so people with medical or mobility concerns should choose another outing.
• Blue Lagoon access now needs a pass: Reserve through the official Blue Lagoon website before you go, or you may be redirected to Santa Maria Bay.

Why the 45-minute speedboat ride matters

Comino is close to Malta, but the trip can feel longer when the sea is busy and the transfer is slow. This outing is built around speed. From the base at St George’s Bay, the boat follows Malta’s east coast, passes St Paul’s Islands, and crosses toward Comino.

That route gives you a useful introduction to the coast before you settle in at the lagoon. You are not just being moved from one beach to another. You get open-water views and a quick look at the islands from sea level.

The speed is also the reason to think carefully before booking. A past passenger reported being thrown upward on a rough return crossing and suffering two broken bones in the back. Another reported bruising after being knocked around in the waves. These are serious warnings, not minor complaints.

The boat has a barrier to hold, and passengers must stay seated for the entire ride. One account also raised concern about not wearing life jackets. The supplied information does not promise padded seats, seat belts, or life jackets being worn, so you should ask the operator about current safety equipment if that matters to you.

I would not choose this trip if you have a back problem, heart problem, mobility impairment, motion sickness, or another medical condition that makes a rough ride risky. Pregnant women, wheelchair users, people over 75, and anyone over 150 kilograms are also listed as unsuitable for the activity.

Leaving from St George’s Bay

The meeting point is at 8 ix-Xatt Ta’ San Ġorġ in St George’s Bay. Look for the black gate, walk down the ramp, turn left, and follow the yellow line painted on the jetty.

Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. This matters more than it might on a normal sightseeing trip. The boat will not wait for late arrivals, and a missed departure means losing the ticket.

There are three listed departure choices:

• 9:30, returning at 13:00
• 12:30, returning at 17:00
• 13:30, returning at 17:30

The advertised duration is five hours, though the individual departure and return times do not all create the same length of outing. The main schedule gives you a useful guide, but I would confirm the exact timing when booking and at the base.

The operator is SNF Operators Ltd, and the host language is English. No individual captain or guide is named, so you should expect a boat transfer and basic assistance rather than a guided historical tour.

Along Malta’s east coast to Comino

Once underway, the boat cruises along Malta’s east coast. The first named sight is St Paul’s Islands, a small pair of islands linked with the story of St Paul’s arrival in Malta.

The trip does not promise a formal commentary, so treat these views as part of the ride rather than a guided lesson. I like this format for people who want scenery without a long speech. If you are hoping for detailed cultural or historical explanation, this is not the strongest reason to book.

The boat then crosses to Comino. Depending on sea conditions, the ride may feel smooth or quite lively. Since passengers remain seated for the whole crossing, you will not be free to walk around, change seats, or move to a calmer part of the boat once underway.

This is a shared speedboat, not a private charter. You should expect other people on board and limited control over the pace or route. That keeps the price at about $47 per person, but it also means the experience is less personal than a private Comino trip.

Blue Lagoon: beautiful water, busy practicalities

The Blue Lagoon is the star of the outing. Its clear water is suited to swimming and snorkeling, and you get several hours to enjoy it without being rushed from one stop to the next.

I like that the free time is largely yours. You can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, buy food and drinks, or rent a sunbed. You are not tied to a set sequence of guided activities, which makes the trip easy to fit around your own energy and interests.

Bring your towel and beachwear. You should also think about what you need for several hours by the water, since food, drinks, and sunbeds are not included in the price.

The biggest practical issue is new access control. Since April 29, 2025, visitors to Blue Lagoon must reserve access through the official website at blcomino.com/product/blue-lagoon/. Your pass details must be correct. If you arrive without a valid pass, you will not be allowed into Blue Lagoon.

In that situation, the group will be redirected to Santa Maria Bay, an alternative beach beside Blue Lagoon. Santa Maria Bay is still part of Comino’s coast, but it is not the same stop you may have pictured when booking. I would reserve the pass before the boat day and check every detail carefully.

The lagoon itself may also be crowded, especially during the warmer months. The experience gives you time at the water, but it does not promise a quiet beach. Renting a sunbed costs extra, and the supplied details do not say how much.

Four hours of free time: a strength and a limitation

For some people, four hours at Comino is exactly right. You can swim, snorkel, dry off, eat, and return to the water without watching the clock every few minutes.

For others, that is too much time in one busy beach area. There is no listed walking tour of Comino, no included snorkel equipment, and no scheduled activity beyond the boat ride and caves. If you do not plan to swim or sunbathe, the long free period may feel slow.

I would bring your own snorkel gear if you have it, though the activity only specifically requires a towel and beachwear. Food and drinks are available to buy, but bringing cash or confirming payment options may be sensible because no refreshment details are provided.

Sun protection is also important, even though it is not listed among the required items. You will be outdoors for hours, and the main stop is centered on water and sun. I would pack sunscreen, a hat, and a cover-up, while keeping valuables to a minimum.

The free-time setup suits independent beach people. It is less suitable if you want a guide organizing every hour or a sequence of several different Comino sights.

St Maria’s Caves before the return

Before heading back, the boat visits St Maria’s Caves. This is a short sightseeing stop from the water, not a cave walk. The appeal is the view of Comino’s rocky shoreline and openings from the boat.

This stop breaks up the long beach period and gives you a second Comino experience beyond Blue Lagoon. It is also a good reason to keep your camera ready during the boat ride.

The exact length of the cave visit is not provided. You should not assume that you will swim into the caves or get off the boat there. The information only promises a visit by boat, so think of it as a coastal viewing stop.

After the caves, the speedboat cruises back to St George’s Bay. The return is where sea conditions matter most for comfort. If you are prone to seasickness, I would skip this outing rather than hope for a calm day.

Is $47 good value?

At roughly $47 per person, the trip offers a fairly direct way to reach Comino without arranging separate boat transport. The price includes the speedboat transfer from St George’s Bay to Blue Lagoon and back, plus the cave visit.

You still pay separately for food, drinks, and sunbeds. Most important, the Blue Lagoon access pass is a separate requirement. So the true cost is higher than the headline price if you want a lounger, refreshments, or any additional beach services.

I see the value in the structure. You get a fast crossing, several hours at the water, and a coastal stop for one moderate fare. You are paying for convenience and speed, not for a luxury boat, private space, or an expert-led tour.

A private charter would likely give you more control, but that is not what this product is offering. For a solo visitor, couple, or family already staying near St Julian’s, the shared trip may be an efficient choice. For anyone placing comfort and safety above speed, the value drops sharply.

One positive account described a good time with children and praised the captain’s speed and handling. That shows how differently the ride can feel from one person to another. I would still weigh that against the reports of bruising, missed times, and a serious back injury.

Timing problems and what to confirm

The scheduled times are clear on paper, but one past passenger reported that departure and return times were not kept and that changes were not communicated. I would confirm the selected departure at the base and keep the rest of your day flexible.

The three options serve different plans:

• The 9:30 departure returns at 13:00, leaving your afternoon open.
• The 12:30 departure returns at 17:00, making it a full afternoon outing.
• The 13:30 departure returns at 17:30, useful if you want a later start but leaving less evening time.

Do not book a restaurant reservation or airport transfer too close to the advertised return. Sea conditions, loading, and schedule changes can affect the timing.

You also need to reach the correct jetty. The black gate, ramp, left turn, and yellow line are useful landmarks, but arrive early enough to ask for help if you are unsure. Losing the boat because of a wrong turn would be an expensive mistake.

Who should book this Comino trip?

I would consider this outing if you:

• Want the quickest listed route from St Julian’s to Blue Lagoon
• Prefer several hours of unstructured beach time
• Enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing
• Like seeing Malta from the water
• Are comfortable with a shared speedboat
• Can remain seated during the full ride
• Are willing to arrange the Blue Lagoon pass yourself

I would choose something else if you:

• Need a gentle boat crossing
• Have back, heart, mobility, or medical concerns
• Suffer from seasickness or motion sickness
• Want a private boat
• Need wheelchair access
• Prefer a guided tour with detailed commentary
• Cannot handle schedule changes
• Are pregnant or over the stated age or weight limits

Children under three are not suited to the activity. Children under ten must be accompanied by an adult aged 18 or older. Baby strollers and carriages are not allowed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now while paying later. Those policies make planning easier, but they do not remove the need to check the Blue Lagoon pass and the boat conditions before the day of departure.

My call: book it for speed, not softness

I would book this trip if my goal were to reach Comino quickly, swim in clear water, and spend most of the outing on my own schedule. The 45-minute crossing, generous beach time, and St Maria’s Caves make good use of a half-day.

I would not book it casually if I had any concern about rough water or back safety. The serious accident report and complaints about hard impacts deserve real weight. Ask about current safety equipment, check the sea conditions, and be honest about your comfort with a fast shared boat.

For an able-bodied swimmer who values time at Blue Lagoon more than a polished boat experience, $47 can be reasonable. For anyone seeking a calm, carefully guided, or highly comfortable cruise, this is not the right fit.

FAQ

How long does the Comino tour last?

The activity is advertised as five hours, but the listed departure and return times vary. The options are 9:30 to 13:00, 12:30 to 17:00, and 13:30 to 17:30.

Where does the boat leave from?

The meeting point is 8 ix-Xatt Ta’ San Ġorġ in St George’s Bay. Walk through the black gate, go down the ramp, turn left, and follow the yellow line on the jetty.

How early should I arrive?

You must arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. The boat will not wait for late arrivals, and late passengers may lose their tickets.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, though you can buy them at Blue Lagoon. Sunbeds are also available to rent separately.

Do I need a pass for Blue Lagoon?

Yes. Since April 29, 2025, visitors must reserve access through the official Blue Lagoon website. Anyone without a valid pass, or with incorrect pass details, may be redirected to Santa Maria Bay.

Is this boat suitable for everyone?

No. The activity is not suitable for children under three, pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with mobility, heart, back, or medical problems, people prone to seasickness or motion sickness, people over 75, or anyone over 150 kilograms.