That water in Comino looks unreal. This is a private boat charter built for short hops between some of Malta’s most famous and photogenic bays, with time to actually swim, snorkel, and wander caves rather than just cruise by.

What I like most is the way the skipper plans anchors for the clearest parts of the lagoon, so you get pool-like swimming at stops like the Blue Lagoon. I also love the personal touch: since it’s only your group, the timing and the small snorkel moments can be adjusted to what you want and what the conditions allow.

One thing to consider: the trip depends on good weather, and there are a couple of add-on costs (notably the Blue Lagoon ticket and fuel), so check the total before you fall in love with the idea.

Key highlights you’ll feel on this charter

• Blue Lagoon swim time where the water looks like glass, anchored in the bluest sections between Comino and Cominotto
• Crystal Lagoon snorkeling, with free mask and snorkel gear and a custom schedule based on season and preferences
• Caves, coves, and a swim-through cave area at Cominotto, plus cruising close to the coastline for natural caves
• Cliff-jump style viewpoints near Gozo’s Hondoq and bemberin gorge, depending on where the skipper can anchor
• Movie-set coastlines explained live, from The Count of Montecristo to Troy and more
• Private-group vibe for families and teens, with multiple reviews praising how skippers kept kids engaged

The big idea: private Comino and Gozo, not a cattle-boat day

This charter is designed around one simple advantage: you’re not sharing the most important moments with a crowd. On a 3-hour window, that matters. You get to stop where you want to swim, not where a schedule forces you to linger for foot traffic.

The route is also practical. Instead of one long transit, the day is chopped into small “go swim, then move” blocks—Blue Lagoon first, then Santa Marija, Cominotto, and the Crystal Lagoon area, with Gozo highlights worked in too (like Hondoq and Mġarr Harbour).

Timing and meeting points: how to avoid the hassle

Pickup is offered at either Cirkewwa Port in Malta or Mġarr Harbour in Gozo. You can also ask to be dropped at a different location than the start point, if you plan ahead—useful if you’re pairing this with a day in Valletta or a Gozo base.

The tour lasts about 3 hours, so think of it as a fast, focused “blue-water circuit.” If your hotel is on the wrong side of the island, pickup makes this feel manageable rather than stressful.

One helpful detail: the experience uses a mobile ticket, and confirmation is sent at booking.

Blue Lagoon: the pool-like stop that makes Comino worth it

Blue Lagoon is the headline, and for good reason. It sits in the water between Comino and Cominotto, with white sandy beaches on both sides—and you can only reach it by boat. That’s why a private charter is the smarter way to see it: you’re not forced into the “arrive, queue, swim, leave” rhythm.

You’ll anchor in the clearest patches, where the water can look almost flat and unreal. The lagoon is also extremely photogenic, with one of the widest stretches of blue water in the Maltese islands. It’s not presented as a secret, but that’s the point: the main stop is famous because it delivers.

What to know about costs: the Blue Lagoon ticket is listed as EUR 79 per booking for a 30-minute admission window, and it’s not included in the base price. That’s a key line-item in the math.

Santa Marija Bay and the Comino caves: a softer, more private-feeling beach

Santa Marija Bay is on the north of Comino and shaped like a horseshoe. The main beach is white sand, backed by tamarisk trees, with a smaller nearby area called Little Santa Marija.

This is a strong snorkeling choice because the sea bed and marine life are described as healthy, and parrotfish can show up in the conversation. You also get the vibe of a calmer beach zone—more private than the rest of Comino—plus the bay area includes an on-sand food stretch where families can relax.

Another bonus here is the caves. The plan includes a visit to Santa Marija caves during the boat stop, cruising into coves with crystal-blue water. If you’re traveling with kids or teens, this is often the part where they stop asking when you’re going to swim again and start focusing on what’s around the boat.

Time and ticketing: Santa Marija Bay is a short stop (about 10 minutes), and the admission ticket is listed as included.

Cominotto Beach and the swim-through cave feel like a movie scene

Cominotto Beach is another spot you can’t really access without a boat, which is why it fits this charter style. It’s known for film locations, including references like Troy and Swept Away by Madonna, among others.

The headliner detail is the swim-through cave—about 50 meters to the other side. Even if you don’t go all the way through, you’ll see why people remember this stretch. It changes the snorkeling mood from “look at fish” to “explore a feature.”

This is also one of the places where the “private charter” advantage shows up. When you anchor quietly and have room to swim without jostling, you can actually enjoy the cave approach instead of timing everything around other boats.

Stops and timing: Cominotto is listed as around 10 minutes at the beach, with Cominotto Reef a brief cruise (around 5 minutes) near the north of the island. Admission tickets for these stops are marked as free.

Saint Mary’s Tower: history you can actually spot from the water

From the boat you’ll see Saint Mary’s Tower high over the cliffs near the lagoon. The tower dates back to the 17th century and functioned as part of a chain of defensive towers—warning and fortification in case of invasion, pirates, or smugglers.

It also has an extra pop-culture connection. It was chosen to represent the Mediterranean prison Château d’If in the 2002 Count of Monte Cristo.

This is one of those moments where the boat format helps. Standing on land can give you views, but from the water you get the scale of the cliffs, and you can connect the geography to the story.

Crystal Lagoon snorkeling: the best “instruction + water time” combo

Crystal Lagoon is turquoise and cave-dotted, with some caves that include secret sandy beaches inside. The boat is described as able to enter some caves, which means you’re not only looking at coastline—you’re getting close to the water features themselves.

This is also where the tour leans into snorkeling. A snorkeling stop is scheduled (depending on time of year and what the group prefers), and mask and snorkel equipment is provided free of charge. So you don’t need to bring gear or rent it separately.

The payoff is practical: you get a planned moment to snorkel at a place chosen for visibility, plus a skipper who can point out Malta/Gozo facts while you’re floating. If you care about fish and sea life, this is the part that makes the whole trip feel worth the upfront cost.

Movies are part of the story too. Crystal Lagoon is referenced as a location used in films like Popeye and Count of Monte Cristo, along with Troy and others. It’s not just trivia—it helps you understand why the coastline looks the way it does and what makes these bays so recognizable from photos.

Gozo sprint: Hondoq Bay, bemberin gorge, and cave-friendly coastlines

The charter doesn’t stay purely in Comino. You also cruise parts of Gozo’s south and east coasts.

Near Hondoq ir-Rumien Bay, the water is described as blue and turquoise, and nearby is the bemberin gorge, a hidden inlet accessible by boat. It includes caves and air pockets, and the water inside is described as crystal clear.

This is also where the cliff action comes in. The plan calls out vantage points for cliff diving opportunities. Because exact conditions aren’t guaranteed, you’ll want to listen to the skipper’s call on safety and timing, but the geography is what makes it possible.

A quick stop at Qala adds more coastline texture—caves along the way, pebble beach moments, and a fortification at the far east point.

Mġarr Harbour and the south-coast cruise that feels calm after all the swimming

Mġarr Harbour is a photogenic, simple port scene—colorful fishing boats, yachts, nets mending on jetties, and the overall rhythm of island life.

You’ll also see Fort Chambré mentioned as dominating the harbor, built by the Knights of St John, plus an adjacent small Gothic chapel dedicated to Lourdes with a statue below the cliff.

After fast-moving swim stops, this part works because it slows the pace. You’re on the water, but it’s more “look and breathe” than “gear up and jump in.”

Island of Gozo: Halfa rock, salt pans, and a secluded bay for sea life

On the Gozo side of the route, the charter cruises the south coast including Halfa rock—a small island in the south of Gozo with history. The coast around it has sheer cliffs, but on the Gozo side there’s a secluded bay only accessible by boat.

The salt pans near the area are also part of the scenic explanation. The plan notes they’re harvested using generations-old methods.

And for the nature angle, the hidden bay is described as known for octopus and sargo bream. You might not see every species on every day, but the point is clear: this itinerary favors places with strong underwater life and good water visibility.

Price reality check: what your group pays and what can come extra

The base price is listed as $349.51 per group (up to 8 people). That’s the “charter” part—boat time, skipper, and the general plan that links Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and several cave/coast stops into a single 3-hour hit.

Then come add-ons:

• Blue Lagoon ticket: EUR 79 per booking (30 minutes), not included
• Fuel: EUR 79 is listed as not included

Other stops are marked as free or included where specified (Santa Marija Bay ticket is marked included, and several other stops show free admission).

So the value depends on how many people you’re splitting with. For a family group up to 8, the math can work out well if you compare it to multiple paid transport + separate boat rentals + snorkeling gear you’d otherwise have to line up. For two people, it can still be worth it if your priority is quiet water time rather than “see it from a crowded boat.”

What’s included: the gear you actually need

Included in the charter are:

• Mask and snorkel
• An ice box with ice or a refrigerator

That ice box detail is more useful than it sounds. If you bring your own drinks (and many people do), cold water helps you keep swimming longer instead of getting tired and stopping early.

Bring your own snacks if you want, since the charter format is friendly to a relaxed picnic approach. Reviews also praise bringing drinks and food aboard to make the day feel more like your own private outing.

What to bring so the 3 hours feel effortless

Plan like you’re going to be in the water more than once.

You’ll want:

• Sunscreen and a towel
• A small dry bag for phones and passports
• Anything you’d like to drink or snack (the ice box helps)

If you’re prone to cold after swimming, pack a light layer too. It’s still a boat day, and Maltese sea breezes can change quickly.

Who this charter is best for (and who should think twice)

This tour fits best if you want:

• A private-group day with actual swim stops
• Families with teens (and younger kids too) who need something engaging besides sightseeing
• People who care about snorkeling visibility and want gear without rentals
• Anyone who likes “movie geography” and wants the stories explained while you’re looking at the real coastline

You might want to rethink if:

• You hate weather uncertainty, since the experience is explicitly weather-dependent
• You’re budgeting tightly and don’t want to manage add-on tickets (Blue Lagoon ticket and fuel)

Skippers: the human factor that shows up again and again

The ride quality depends a lot on the skipper, and that comes through strongly in the names tied to the experience: skippers like Zlatko, Justin, Noel, Ginger, Mario, Upie, Buffon, Pedro, and Jo show up in recent accounts.

What stands out is not just friendliness—it’s pacing. Several accounts mention relaxed handling and careful driving, including attention to kids’ comfort and keeping the group safe when navigating caves and currents. You’ll feel that when you’re trying to slip into snorkel spots and swim without bouncing around.

Should you book it?

I’d book this if you’re aiming for the kind of Malta day where the main event is the water, not the schedule. Private time in Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon plus caves and Gozo stops is a lot to pack into 3 hours, and the included snorkel gear and ice box help you feel prepared instead of scrambling.

I’d hesitate only if you’re traveling with a tight weather-dependent plan or you’re not willing to budget the extra costs tied to Blue Lagoon and fuel. If you can flex with conditions and you’re traveling as a group (especially up to 8), this charter tends to feel like one of the more practical ways to see Comino and Gozo’s best angles without the crowd stress.

FAQ

How many people can book this private charter?

The price is per group for up to 8 people.

How long is the Malta boat charter?

The duration is about 3 hours.

Where do pickup and drop-off happen?

Pickup is offered at Cirkewwa port in Malta or at Mgarr Harbour in Gozo. The activity ends back at the meeting point, though you can request a different drop-off location in advance.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. It’s offered in English and Italian.

Do I get a mobile ticket?

Yes, a mobile ticket is provided.

What’s included in the price?

The charter includes mask and snorkel gear, plus an ice box with ice or a refrigerator.

What extra costs should I expect?

Fuel for the boat is not included (EUR 79). The Blue Lagoon ticket is listed as EUR 79 per booking and is not included. Santa Marija Bay includes its admission ticket, and several other stops are marked free.

Is snorkeling part of the trip?

A snorkeling stop is scheduled (depending on the time of year and what the group prefers), and snorkeling equipment is provided free of charge.

Does the charter run in bad weather?

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

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the start time, the amount paid is not refunded.