Blue water, no crowds, your own captain. This 3-hour private charter from Mellieha is interesting because the whole boat is yours, and you choose how long to linger—especially at the Blue Lagoon swim and the snorkel stops with gear on board. The main catch is a one-time €79 fuel cost you pay to the skipper after the tour.

You meet at Cirkewwa right by a small kiosk/café, then head out for clear-water anchoring in Comino and movie-cave coastlines around Cominotto and Crystal Lagoon, before finishing back at Cirkewwa or being dropped elsewhere on Malta or Gozo. It’s great value if you’re a group of up to six who want fewer compromises and more time in the water, even when the waves are choppy.

Key highlights worth planning around

• Private charter means your pacing, your swims with a captain who adjusts the day
• Snorkeling equipment included (mask and snorkel), plus time built in for water breaks
• Blue Lagoon anchoring where the water looks unreal and photo-ready from the boat
• Comino caves and coves with short drives through history from tower viewpoints to film locations
• Gozo adds variety with bays like Hondoq and a stop at Mgarr Harbour

Why this Mellieha-to-Comino-to-Gozo charter feels like the right kind of luxury

Paying $337.55 per group (up to six) for a private boat day can feel steep at first. Then you do the math: you’re not paying per person for the boat, you’re paying for space—and for time that doesn’t get eaten by crowd schedules. If you’re traveling as a small family or group, that changes the whole equation.

What makes this charter special is how the day is built around water quality and access. Blue Lagoon is the headline, but you’re not just parking near it. The plan is to anchor in the bluest parts and give you room to swim and snorkel without turning your morning into a queue.

The other reason it feels like good value is the way the skipper can tailor your balance of sightseeing versus swimming. If you want extra time floating, you usually get it. If you want more cave viewing and fewer back-and-forth swim stops, you can aim that direction too.

Cirkewwa meeting point: easy start, flexible end

The whole day begins at Cirkewwa, and the meeting point is simple: the port area right next to the kiosk/café (described as the only one in the immediate spot). It’s the kind of meeting setup that helps when you’re arriving on your own schedule.

You can also arrange pickup options depending on what you prefer. The tour can meet you at Cirkewwa Marina or Gozo Marina, and the end of the trip can work as a round trip back to your starting point—or the operator can drop you on either island. That flexibility matters if you’re pairing this with other plans, like a Gozo afternoon.

A big bonus: this is explicitly a private experience. Only your group participates, so you’re not stuck with someone else’s pace.

Blue Lagoon from the boat: the swim stop you plan the whole trip around

Blue Lagoon is the draw for a reason. The day is set up so you experience it from the water, not from a busy shoreline. You’re headed for those crystal-clear stretches between Comino and Cominotto, with white sandy edges on both sides.

On a private boat, you’re able to anchor in the bluest water and pick your moment. That’s what changes the feel. Instead of hopping on and off near shore, you’re swimming where the color looks like a pool. The stop is short enough to keep the day moving, but long enough for a real swim.

If you care about photos, this is the best part to plan around good light. Even if you’re not into selfies, the water itself is the show. Bring a waterproof phone option if you like quick shots from the edge of the boat.

A small note: the stop time is about 30 minutes. If your idea of fun is long, slow snorkeling sessions, you’ll probably want to pair Blue Lagoon with the later snorkeling-friendly areas.

Santa Marija on Comino: quiet beach shape plus snorkeling-friendly water

After the showstopper swim, the charter shifts to a more secluded feel with Santa Marija Bay on Comino. This beach is described as a horseshoe shape with white sand and tamarisk trees lining the back.

What I like about this stop is the way it matches different styles of relaxation:

• Families and groups who want a gentler, more private beach vibe
• Snorkelers who want a better chance at seeing fish around the seabed

There’s also a smaller nearby pocket called Little Santa Marija, and it’s singled out as having a healthier sea bed and marine life—plus it’s noted for parrotfish. Even if you’re not an expert snorkeler, that kind of detail usually means the water is worth the effort.

The timing here is around 10 minutes, and there’s also access to the nearby caves and coves as part of the boat route. So think of Santa Marija as a quick beach-plus-water moment rather than a long landbreak.

Cominotto beach and its swim-through cave: movie-famous coast with real water time

Cominotto is one of those spots where the “only by boat” rule is exactly why people fall for it. The charter anchors in the water near Cominotto beach, and you get to experience a secluded bay that’s known for being used in films.

The standout feature is the swim-through cave reported to be about 50 meters to the other side. That’s the kind of thing that turns a stop into a mini-adventure—if conditions are right and you feel comfortable.

One drawback to consider: a cave swim is only as fun as the water and your comfort level with swimming through a passage. The charter’s private nature helps here because your skipper can keep an eye on the group’s comfort and pace, but you still want to be honest with yourself about whether you’ll enjoy that style of swim.

This is also a shorter stop—about 10 minutes—so you’re likely to get one main swim moment and then move on.

Crystal Lagoon caves plus snorkeling gear: the most action-per-minute stop

If Blue Lagoon is where you get the wow color, Crystal Lagoon is where you get more variety in a single stop. The water here is described as turquoise with caves along the coast, including some with secret sandy beaches inside.

The boat is built to enter certain caves, which means you’re not just looking at them from outside. Instead, you can explore from inside the cave openings and move between coves while the skipper gives information about Malta and its islands.

This is also the snorkeling-friendly part of the day. A snorkeling stop is scheduled, depending on season and what your group prefers, and mask and snorkel are provided. If you’re traveling with someone who is excited to snorkel, this is where they’ll likely feel happiest because the scenery and the fish potential work together.

There’s an extra reason people pay attention to this area: it’s mentioned as a movie location too, including films like Count of Monte Cristo and Troy. The payoff is that the skipper can connect those film locations to the real coastline as you’re sitting in it.

Saint Mary’s Tower: a quick stop where the view comes with a story

On the way along the lagoon area, you’ll spot Saint Mary’s Tower, dated to the 17th century. It’s part of a chain of defensive towers meant for warning signals against invasion and piracy/smuggling.

Here’s what I appreciate about including a tower-view moment: it breaks up the water-only rhythm without turning the day into a museum visit. You get a short glimpse from the boat while you’re already surrounded by the scenery.

The tower is also described as representing Château d’If in Count of Monte Cristo (2002). Even if you don’t care about films, it’s still a good point to anchor your understanding of how these islands defended themselves.

This stop is brief (about 5 minutes), so don’t expect a deep architectural walkthrough—just enough context to make the coastline feel more alive.

Gozo by private boat: bays, a gorge, and Mgarr Harbour’s working-port feel

Once the charter swings to Gozo, you get a change in mood. The Malta side often feels like the world-famous postcard version. Gozo feels more lived-in and varied, especially from the water.

South-coast Gozo and Halfa Rock

You cruise parts of Gozo’s south coast, including Halfa rock, described as a small island with history. There’s also mention of a secluded bay on the Gozo side that’s accessed only by boat—so again, you’re getting the water-based access advantage that private charters are built for.

Hondoq Bay and Bemberin Gorge inlet

One of the most fun-sounding detours is near Hondoq ir-Rumien Bay, where there’s access to Bemberin Gorge. It’s described as a hidden inlet only reached by boat, with caves and air pockets, plus vantage points for cliff diving.

Important reality check: cliff-diving viewpoints are great to see, but you should only do that kind of thing if your group is comfortable and conditions allow it. If you’re traveling with kids or non-swimmers, you can treat it as a scenery-and-snorkel-watch moment.

Mgarr Harbour and the Fort and chapel

Later you reach Mgarr Harbour, described as simple and serene: colorful fishing boats, yachts, and fishermen repairing nets. It’s one of the few places on the itinerary that feels like you’re seeing normal island life from the water.

A highlight here is Forth Chambre, where the Knight of St John built the fort, plus an adjacent Gothic chapel dedicated to Lourdes. For photographers and sketchers, that mixture of fort + chapel + harbor boats is easy to work with.

This portion feels like a good palate cleanser after the cave-heavy Comino stops.

Your skipper matters: what the best days have in common

This is a captain-driven experience, and the feedback you’re most likely to care about is how people describe the skippers themselves. Many accounts name the skipper and emphasize comfort, pacing, and attention to what their group wants.

You’ll see names like Owen, Noel, Pedro, Ginger, Joe, Addin, Casper, Upie, Mahmoud, Jimmy, Dani, Men, and Chris showing up. Across those accounts, a few patterns repeat:

• The captain finds good swimming spots and keeps the day relaxed
• People mention feeling safe and looked after, even when waves get choppy
• Several skippers are described as fun and good at explaining what you’re seeing

One particularly useful note for non-swimmers: at least one person wrote that their skipper encouraged them to enjoy the water anyway. That’s a reminder that “private charter” doesn’t have to mean “hard core swim competition.” You can still have a great time if you prefer floating, brief snorkeling, or just hanging by the boat edge.

Price and logistics: what you really pay for (and what to plan around)

The headline price is $337.55 per group, up to six people, for roughly 3 hours. That’s for the boat as a whole, not per person, which is where the value kicks in if you’re splitting costs among multiple travelers.

A key detail: there’s a one-time extra €79 fuel cost paid in cash to the skipper after the tour. Some people find this adds sting. If you’re budgeting, plan for it so you’re not surprised mid-day.

On the included side, you’re getting more than just a ride:

• marina costs are included
• snorkeling equipment (mask and snorkel) is included
• anchoring fees for Blue Lagoon, Comino, and Crystal Lagoon National Reserve are included

In other words, you’re not paying separately for the stops that matter. You’re paying for access.

What to bring for a smooth 3-hour water day

This charter lives and dies by what you do with your short time on the water. You should pack like it’s a swim day, not a sightseeing bus ride.

Bring:

• swimwear and a towel
• sunglasses
• sun protection
• a dry bag for phones and cash
• snacks and drinks if you like (a cooler is mentioned in some accounts, but it’s smart to assume you’ll bring what you want)

If you’re prone to motion sickness, consider medication ahead of time. A couple accounts mention choppy waves, and the skipper may still keep things comfortable, but you’ll feel it if you’re sensitive.

And if you want photos: charge your phone beforehand. One account mentions a portable charger onboard, but that may not be a consistent feature, so don’t count on it.

Should you book this Malta Private Charter from Mellieha?

Book it if:

• you want Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon with fewer crowd hassles
• you’re traveling with up to five others and want a true group-value setup
• you care about cave scenery and want a captain to manage the best access
• you like a mix of swimming, snorkeling, and short viewpoint moments

Skip it (or pick a different style of tour) if:

• you only want long beach time on land, because most stops are timed for quick water breaks and boat exploration
• you’re not comfortable with short swims and cave areas like the Cominotto swim-through cave
• you’d rather avoid any extra on-the-spot costs, since the €79 fuel top-up is part of the deal

If your ideal Malta day sounds like: meet at Cirkewwa, chase the blue water, pop into caves, snorkel with included gear, then finish with Gozo harbour views—this charter fits the mood well.

FAQ

What is the duration of the Malta private charter?

The charter runs for about 3 hours (approx.).

How many people can be on the boat?

The price is for the whole boat for up to 6 people.

Where do we meet for the tour?

Meet at Cirkewwa port next to the kiosk/café at Cirkewwa (the only one in that area).

Is pickup offered, and can I choose pickup/drop-off points?

Pickup is offered, and you can choose pickup at either Cirkewwa marina or Gozo marina. You can also arrange for a round trip or a drop-off on Malta or Gozo.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Mask and snorkel are included on board.

Which stops include admission or are marked as included?

Blue Lagoon (included), Santa Marija Bay (included), Crystal Lagoon (included) are specifically marked as admission included, while other stops are marked as admission ticket free.

Is there an extra cost during the tour?

Yes. Fuel is not included. There is a one-time extra €79 fuel cost paid to the skipper after the tour.

Does the price include marina and anchoring fees?

Yes. Marina costs are included, and anchoring fees for Blue Lagoon, Comino, and Crystal Lagoon National Reserve are included.

Is the tour in English?

Yes, it’s offered in English.

What happens if the weather is poor?

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for free?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.