Blue Lagoon, Comino and Caves Tour with Private Rib Boat

The best thing about this trip is control. Instead of following a large boat packed with strangers, you get a private RIB for up to eight people and a skipper who can shape the route around swimming, caves, photos, or quiet coves. I especially like the chance to enter Lovers Cave and Santa Maria Caves by boat, plus the time at Crystal Lagoon. Francesco is a local skipper from Gozo, and Mathew also leads trips.

I like the small-group setting and the useful extras: bottled water, an ice cooler, and snorkeling equipment. The main point to consider is cost. At $311.18 per group, plus a €99 fuel surcharge, this makes the most sense when several people share it. The three-hour schedule also gives you a fine taste of Comino, but not a slow, all-day beach outing.

Key points before you book

• A private RIB for up to eight people: You avoid a fixed public-boat schedule and share the boat only with your own group.
• Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon swims: Both offer clear water, but Crystal Lagoon usually feels quieter and more enclosed.
• Boat access to Comino’s caves: Lovers Cave, Popeye’s Cave, Santa Maria Caves, and other openings are best seen from the water.
• Historic sights along the coast: St. Mary’s Tower and Saint Mary’s Battery add Maltese military history to the swimming stops.
• Snorkeling equipment and water included: Bring your own towel and swimwear, but basic water gear is supplied.
• A €99 fuel surcharge applies: Add this to the advertised group price when working out the real cost.

Why a private RIB changes the Comino day

Comino is small, but its most attractive spots are scattered along a rugged coast. A private RIB lets you cover a great deal of it without walking between bays or waiting for a large excursion boat to load and unload.

The boat is described as clean, spacious, and comfortable, with enough room for a group of up to eight. Earlier trips have used a new Zodiac with two 300-horsepower engines, although boat details can vary by departure. The strong engine gives the ride a lively feel between stops, while the skipper can slow down for caves and viewpoints.

That private setup matters most at the swimming stops. You can spend your allotted time in the water instead of being hurried through a crowded boarding routine. Francesco has been praised for making the trip feel personal, answering questions about Comino and Gozo, and adjusting the outing to suit the group. Mathew also operates trips, and the company is family-owned.

The route is busy on paper. It includes lagoons, reefs, caves, a wreck, beaches, rock formations, and forts. In practice, a three-hour tour cannot give every location equal time. Think of it as a brisk coastal circuit with selected stops, not a full day at every bay.

St. Mary’s Tower and Lovers Cave

The first major sight is St. Mary’s Tower, a 17th-century fort built by the Knights of St. John. It sits high above the channel between Malta and Gozo, and its thick stone walls are easy to appreciate from the sea.

Film fans may recognise the fort as the Château d’If prison in the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo. Even without the movie connection, the tower gives you a clear sense of Comino’s former defensive role. This was not simply a pretty island. Its position helped control a busy stretch of water.

Below the tower, the boat enters Lovers Cave. This is a quiet sea cave reached only from the water, so the boat provides the best way to see it. The opening and interior make a good photo stop, though conditions inside can depend on wind and waves.

I would have your camera ready before the boat reaches the cliff. The listed time here is about 15 minutes, which is enough for a look and some pictures, but not for a long pause.

L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf, Comino’s cave with a skylight

L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf translates as the cave without a roof. Part of its ceiling has collapsed, leaving a large opening above the chamber. Sunlight falls through this natural skylight and changes the colour of the rock and water during the visit.

The cave is also called It-Tieqa or Taħt il-Ħnejja. Movie fans may know it as Popeye’s Cave because it appeared in the 1980s film Popeye, starring Robin Williams.

This is a strong stop for photographs because you get several elements in one frame: pale limestone, dark cave walls, open sky, and clear seawater. The boat does the hard work of getting you inside. You will not need to scramble along rocks or search for a land entrance.

The visit is listed at about 15 minutes. That is enough to appreciate the shape of the cave, but the short stop means you should avoid treating it as a long exploration. The skipper’s skill matters here, since the boat needs to enter carefully and conditions can affect access.

Crystal Lagoon gives you the best swim break

Crystal Lagoon is on Comino’s western side and is often the more appealing swim stop for people who want clear water without the full pressure of the Blue Lagoon crowds. Tall limestone cliffs surround the bay, and the boat can reach areas that are not practical from shore.

You have about 30 minutes here for swimming and snorkeling. Nearby caves provide another option, with some large enough for the RIB to enter and others better suited to a short swim. The cliffs also attract people who want to jump into the water, with different heights available.

I would treat cliff jumping as optional, not as a standard part of the tour. The description makes clear that there are different levels, but it does not promise a particular jump site or safety setup. If you are unsure, stay with swimming and snorkeling.

The included equipment is useful for a short excursion. You receive snorkeling gear and bottled water, and the ice cooler helps keep drinks cold. Bring anything else you need for a swim, since the package does not list towels, food, or personal sun protection.

P31 gives snorkelers an unusual underwater sight

The P31 is a former Maltese patrol boat that was deliberately sunk in 2009 to create an artificial reef. It rests upright on the seabed at about 18 to 20 metres, with its highest point only around seven metres below the surface.

That depth makes the wreck interesting even if you are not a certified scuba diver. On a clear day, snorkelers and free divers may see the whole structure from above. Schools of fish and small sea life now use the wreck, adding movement to what would otherwise be a plain underwater view.

The exact timing for this stop is not stated, unlike the lagoons and caves. In a three-hour trip, the skipper may offer it as a quick look or combine it with a nearby swim. Visibility and sea conditions will affect what you can see.

This is one of the tour’s more unusual features. Many Comino trips focus only on beaches and caves, while the P31 gives you a glimpse of Malta’s modern maritime history beneath the surface.

Cominotto Reef and the islet beside the Blue Lagoon

Cominotto Reef, also called Anchor Reef, lies off the western coast of Cominotto. It has steep underwater drop-offs, overhangs, and swim-throughs, with depths ranging from about 10 to 40 metres.

The reef suits confident snorkelers and experienced scuba divers better than complete beginners, especially where the seabed drops away. Octopuses, moray eels, and colourful fish may be found among the rock formations. Since the tour includes snorkeling gear, you can make a short surface visit without bringing your own mask and fins.

The nearby islet of Cominotto is one of the prettiest parts of the route. It has rugged cliffs, a small sandy beach, and a sea tunnel that can be reached by swimming. The water around it is clear, and the coast feels more secluded than the main Blue Lagoon area.

Cominotto also appeared in scenes from Troy and Swept Away. The film connection is a pleasant extra, but the real reason to stop is the combination of pale rock, open sea, and swim-through caves.

Blue Lagoon without needing to go ashore

The Blue Lagoon is Malta’s famous postcard scene: turquoise water between Comino and Cominotto, pale seabed, and steep rocky edges. It is also the place most likely to feel crowded, particularly during the busiest part of the day.

This private boat has an important advantage. You can enjoy the lagoon from the water without joining the crowds on land. The skipper can take you toward quieter areas and nearby coves, depending on conditions and the day’s route.

You get about 30 minutes here for swimming, floating, snorkeling, or photographs. That is enough for a refreshing stop, but do not expect a long beach session. The tour is designed to show you several parts of Comino, so the Blue Lagoon is one chapter rather than the whole book.

New rules require a pre-booking pass if you want to go ashore at the Blue Lagoon. That pass does not apply if you remain on the boat. This is a useful point for anyone who wants the water and scenery without dealing with an extra land-access step.

San Niklaw Bay and Santa Marija Bay

San Niklaw Bay offers a quieter change of pace on Comino’s northern coast. Its clear water, rocky sides, and Mediterranean plants make it suitable for a swim, a little snorkeling, or simply staying aboard while the boat rests in the bay.

The stop can work well if the Blue Lagoon feels too busy. It is also a reminder that Comino has more than one famous swimming place. The bay can be reached by boat or walking trail, but this tour lets you see it from the water without adding a hike to the schedule.

Santa Marija Bay is another calmer stop. Its shallow water and sandy beach make it a good choice for families and anyone who prefers an easy swim. The historic Santa Marija Chapel, dating from 1618, adds a small cultural detail to the beach scene.

The listed time here is about 30 minutes, making it one of the better opportunities for a relaxed swim. Still, the route contains many stops, so your skipper may adjust the exact order or length according to weather and sea conditions.

Windows, caves, Elephant Rock, and the island’s old forts

The Għemieri Window is a natural limestone arch shaped by wind and water. From the boat, you can see the opening against the cliffs and turquoise sea. It is mainly a photo stop, but it gives you a close look at the rough textures of Comino’s coast.

The Santa Maria Caves are one of the tour’s strongest features. The skipper takes the boat into a network of narrow passages and chambers on Comino’s northeastern coast. Light reflects from the water onto the rock, producing blue and green tones inside the caves.

The route also passes Elephant Rock, a limestone formation said to resemble an elephant lowering its trunk into the sea. The shape is easiest to appreciate from the correct angle, so listen when the skipper points it out and have your camera ready.

Saint Mary’s Battery is another historic fort built by the Knights of St. John, this time in the 18th century. It served as a lookout against pirates and Ottoman attacks, and its position gives wide views across the Gozo channel. You will admire it from the water rather than visit the interior, but it adds useful context to the island’s coastline.

What the price really means for your group

The advertised price is $311.18 for a private group of up to eight, with a €99 fuel surcharge per booking. The surcharge is important. Add it before comparing this trip with a public excursion, since the real total is higher than the headline price.

For eight people, the base price works out to roughly $39 per person before the fuel charge. For four people, it is about $78 each before that extra fee. The smaller the group, the more carefully you should compare the total with shared boat trips.

The value comes from privacy, flexibility, a faster RIB, and a route packed with places that are difficult to reach independently. You also receive water, an ice cooler, and snorkeling equipment. The price is less attractive if you mainly want to sit at one beach for several hours, since the three-hour plan keeps moving.

This is a good choice for families, couples, and friends who want their own boat. It also suits people who care more about caves and coastal views than spending the day on land. If your group is only two people and price is the main concern, a shared trip may be the better financial choice.

Timing, weather, and practical details

The experience lasts about three hours. Several stops have listed times of 15 or 30 minutes, but some viewpoints and reef visits do not have separate durations. That suggests a flexible route rather than a minute-by-minute schedule.

Good weather is required. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, while changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Confirmation is provided at booking. Service animals are allowed, and the experience is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but swimming ability, comfort around boats, and willingness to climb into the water will affect how much you enjoy the stops.

The mobile ticket is handy for a day out, and the private format means only your group joins the activity. Ask about the planned route at the start. That gives you a chance to say if swimming, caves, forts, or the Blue Lagoon matters most.

Should you book this Comino boat tour?

Book it if you want to see a lot of Comino in a short time and value having the boat to yourself. The strongest reasons are the cave access, Crystal Lagoon swim, Blue Lagoon viewpoint, P31 wreck, and the chance to adjust the outing with a local skipper such as Francesco or Mathew.

I would be especially happy choosing it for a group of six to eight, where the cost is shared and the private boat becomes good value. It is also a smart pick if crowded public boats are not your idea of a holiday.

Think twice if you want a slow beach day, dislike fast boat rides, or are traveling as a very small group on a tight budget. For everyone else, this is a lively and varied way to experience Comino, with enough swimming and sea time to balance the forts, films, and rock formations.

FAQ

How long is the Blue Lagoon and Comino tour?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private RIB accommodates a group of up to eight people.

Is the Blue Lagoon land pass included?

No land pass is listed. A pre-booking pass is required to go ashore at the Blue Lagoon under the new rules, but the pass is not needed if you remain on the boat.

Are snorkeling equipment and water included?

Yes. Bottled water and snorkeling equipment are included, along with use of an ice cooler.

Is there an extra fuel charge?

Yes. A €99 fuel surcharge applies per booking and should be added to the advertised group price.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.