Private Boat Charter Comino, Blue Lagoon, Gozo

Comino’s Blue Lagoon is only part of this full-day private boat trip. You also reach Santa Maria Caves, Smugglers Cave, Crystal Lagoon, and a choice of Gozo bays, all from your own boat with a skipper. I like the freedom to linger at the swimming spot your group prefers, and the small boat can reach places larger cruises cannot. The drawback is simple: seven hours in strong sun and open water is a lot if you do not enjoy swimming or boat travel.

I also like the practical comfort of sunpads, a canopy, fridge, shower, and Bluetooth speakers. Captain Riccardo has earned strong praise for being attentive, handling children well, and adapting the day to his group. Just remember that weather can change the Gozo plan, and this trip is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or wheelchair users.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to seven: You pay $883 per group, not per person, so the value improves sharply with a full group.
• Several major sea stops: The route includes Comino’s Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, Santa Maria Caves, Smugglers Cave, and Gozo.
• Gozo plans can change: Depending on conditions, you visit Ramla Bay and San Blas Bay, or Mgarr ix-Xini.
• Swimming time is generous: The schedule allows about 1.5 hours at both Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, plus around two hours around Gozo.
• Captain Riccardo is part of the appeal: His attentive service and willingness to follow group preferences are repeatedly emphasized in the available feedback.
• Bring the basics: You need swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. The boat supplies the useful extras, including a canopy, fridge, shower, and sunpads.

Why a private boat makes Comino easier

A private charter changes the rhythm of a Comino day. You are not tied to a large group’s timetable or forced to leave a cove just as the water looks inviting. Your group has the entire boat, and the captain can shape the stops around your interests, within the route and weather limits.

That matters most for a mixed group. Strong swimmers may want more time with a mask and snorkel, while others may prefer to sit under the canopy, use the sunpads, and enjoy the coast from the boat. Families also gain a little breathing room. One available rating specifically praises Captain Riccardo’s approach with children.

The $883 price covers up to seven people. At full capacity, that works out to about $126 per person for seven hours, a useful comparison with ordinary group cruises. With only two or three people, the per-person cost becomes much higher, so the charter makes the most financial sense for a family or group of friends filling most of the seats.

This is not a luxury yacht outing with a formal meal or a long list of onboard services. Its value comes from privacy, route flexibility, access for a smaller boat, and the chance to make swimming the center of the day.

Leaving Sliema and following Malta’s northern coast

Departure is from the Strand in Sliema or a nearby agreed location, depending on the option booked. The listed meeting point is A1 Boat Charters Malta at Ferries 2, but you should check the exact departure instructions when booking because the point can vary.

The first part of the cruise takes you past St. Julians and St. Paul’s Islands. St. Paul’s Island is a pass-by and photo stop rather than a long shore visit, so think of it as a scenic opening to the day. You will see Malta from the water, with the rugged coast and small offshore islands setting the tone for the trip.

A boat day also gives you a different view of distances. Bays that seem close on a map can take time to reach by sea, and the route includes several separate areas. The seven-hour duration is therefore useful. A shorter trip would have to cut out either Gozo, the caves, or the longer swimming breaks.

The boat has a canopy, but you should still pack sunscreen and use it often. The Maltese sun can feel mild while you are moving, then intense once you are sitting still on a sunpad.

Smugglers Cave and the first swim

Smugglers Cave is the first stated swimming stop. It offers a quick shift from sightseeing to the main physical pleasure of the day: getting into clear water from the boat and looking back at the rock walls from sea level.

The appeal of a small private charter is especially clear here. The boat can approach places that larger vessels cannot, giving you a closer view of the cave and more control over how long you spend in the water. The supplied schedule does not promise a fixed length for this stop, so the captain’s timing and the group’s wishes matter.

If you are not a confident swimmer, ask about the order of the stops and how you can use the boat while others swim. A shower is included, which is useful after repeated saltwater stops, though you should still bring a towel.

Santa Maria Caves from a smaller boat

Santa Maria Caves is a sightseeing and photo stop with a strong practical advantage: the charter is designed to approach the caves closely. You are not simply viewing them as distant openings from a packed sightseeing vessel.

The caves are a good place for photos because the rock formations, shadows, and bright water create a clear contrast. Conditions affect how close the boat can get, and the captain will judge what is safe. The tour does not promise a walk inside the caves, so expect to see them from the boat and take in the details at water level.

This is also one of the quieter parts of the schedule. After the first swim, it gives you time to dry off, take photographs, and enjoy the coast before the longer stops at Comino.

Blue Lagoon: famous, beautiful, and busy

Blue Lagoon is the headline stop for many people visiting Comino. The water is the attraction, with swimming and snorkeling scheduled for about 1.5 hours. From the private boat, you can enjoy the setting without making the whole day a standard ferry excursion.

The important distinction is that private does not mean secluded. Blue Lagoon is famous, and the area can be busy. The charter lets you approach by boat and spend time in the water, but it cannot remove the popularity of the place or control the wider surroundings.

I would treat this as a major swimming stop rather than a calm beach escape. Keep your expectations realistic, especially if you want complete quiet. The boat’s sunpads and canopy give you a comfortable place to retreat between swims, and the fridge is handy for keeping drinks cool.

Snorkeling is included as an activity, but bring any personal equipment you prefer if you have it. The supplied information confirms swimming and snorkeling stops, but it does not specify a full equipment list, so it is sensible to confirm what is provided before departure.

Crystal Lagoon for another long water break

Crystal Lagoon receives another 1.5 hours for swimming and snorkeling. The longer stop means you are not rushing from one famous location to the next. You can get in, take a break, get back in, and still have time to enjoy the view from the boat.

I like the way these two lagoon stops balance the day. Blue Lagoon gives you the famous name and postcard setting, while Crystal Lagoon gives you another chance to enjoy clear water without treating the first swim as your only opportunity.

Still, two extended water stops require some energy. If you are traveling with children or anyone who tires quickly, agree as a group on how to use the time. Some people can swim while others remain aboard under the canopy. The captain can tailor the day, but you should communicate your preferences early rather than assume the schedule will change on its own.

Gozo: choose a bay based on the weather

The Gozo section lasts about two hours and is the most flexible part of the route. Weather conditions determine whether you visit San Blas Bay and Ramla Bay, or Mgarr ix-Xini.

Ramla Bay is known for its golden-reddish sand. Parts of the film Troy were filmed there, adding a small piece of screen history to the stop. It offers a different setting from Comino’s rocky coves, with sand making it appealing if you want a change from swimming beside limestone walls.

San Blas Bay is paired with Ramla Bay in one possible plan. The exact timing and activity at each location can depend on sea conditions, so you should think of this as a Gozo coastal visit rather than a guaranteed beach itinerary with fixed shore time.

The other option, Mgarr ix-Xini, is a narrow bay set between steep-sided rock. Its enclosed shape gives the stop a different feel from the open lagoon areas. If weather makes this route safer or more comfortable, the change is not a failure of the trip. It is the captain adjusting the day to the sea.

This flexibility is one reason a private charter can suit you better than a rigid cruise. You have a group conversation with the captain, then make the most of the conditions available. The tradeoff is that you cannot plan every photograph and stop in advance.

Captain Riccardo and the value of good handling

The captain matters on a day built around the water. Captain Riccardo is named in the strongest available feedback, with specific praise for attentiveness, adapting to requests, and being good with children. Another comment highlights the boat’s high standard and the captain’s ability to exceed expectations.

That does not mean you should expect a fully custom route with unlimited time at every bay. The trip still has to cover Comino, Gozo, the caves, and the return to Sliema in seven hours. But an attentive captain can help your group decide where to linger and how to respond to wind or sea conditions.

The tour is conducted in English. If you have young swimmers, less confident swimmers, or a group split between snorkelers and sunbathers, tell the captain what kind of day you want at the start.

Boat comfort for a full seven hours

The boat includes features that matter more as the hours pass:

• Sunpads for relaxing between swims
• A canopy for shade
• A fridge for keeping drinks cool
• A shower for rinsing off saltwater
• Bluetooth speakers for your own music
• Fuel included, so there is no added fuel charge listed

These are modest details, but they shape the day. A boat without shade can become tiring. A boat without a place to lie back makes every gap between stops feel longer. The fridge and shower are especially useful when swimming is repeated over several hours.

Pack lightly. Your essentials are swimwear, towel, and sunscreen. The available information does not list food or drinks as included, so do not assume lunch is supplied. Ask before you go if your group needs provisions arranged or wants to bring its own.

Who should book this charter?

I would recommend it most strongly to a group of up to seven that wants a private day on the water and is happy to make swimming the main activity. Families may appreciate the space and the captain’s reported care with children. Friends can benefit from the music, sunpads, and freedom to choose where to spend more time.

It is also a good fit if you want to combine Malta, Comino, and Gozo in one day without splitting the trip into separate boat excursions. The route covers a lot, but it does so at a fairly active pace.

I would think twice if you dislike direct sun, get uncomfortable on boats, or want a long walking visit on Gozo. This is a sea-focused outing, not a land tour. The caves are viewed from the boat, and the Gozo portion may change with conditions.

Pregnant women, people with back problems, and wheelchair users should not book this activity because it is specifically listed as unsuitable for them.

Booking value and practical timing

The listed cost is $883 for the whole group of up to seven, with a seven-hour duration. Full groups receive the best value. At six or seven people, the private format can compare favorably with several individual tickets for separate cruises, especially when you place a price on privacy and the ability to adjust the day.

The activity offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. That gives you some protection while weather and holiday plans remain uncertain.

Start times depend on availability, and the meeting point may vary by booking option. Confirm the exact pickup location rather than relying only on the general Sliema reference.

Should you book it?

Book this charter if you want a private, swim-heavy day with Comino, Gozo, caves, and a captain who can adapt the route. It is particularly worthwhile for a group that can fill most of the seven places and wants more control than a standard cruise provides.

Skip it if you mainly want a quiet beach day, a long Gozo land visit, or a low-cost boat ride. For the right group, though, the combination of Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Santa Maria Caves, Smugglers Cave, and two hours around Gozo makes this a well-packed way to see Malta’s northern coast from the water.

FAQ

How long is the private boat charter?

The charter lasts seven hours, including the cruise from the Sliema area, cave visits, swimming stops, the Comino lagoons, Gozo, and the return journey.

How many people can join the private boat?

The boat is private for your group, with a maximum of seven people.

Where does the boat depart?

Departure is from the Strand in Sliema or a nearby area by request. The meeting point can vary depending on the option booked, with A1 Boat Charters Malta at Ferries 2 listed as a meeting point.

Which places in Gozo will the tour visit?

Depending on weather conditions, the tour visits San Blas Bay and Ramla Bay, or Mgarr ix-Xini.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. The boat includes sunpads, a canopy, a fridge, a shower, Bluetooth speakers, and fuel.

Is the tour suitable for everyone?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or wheelchair users. The tour is conducted in English and is for a private group.