Private Boat Charter – Comino/Parts of Gozo

The best part of this private boat charter is simple: you get the Comino and Gozo coast without having to share the boat with strangers. Your skipper can adjust the route, stop for swims, and show you caves and rock formations that larger boats may pass by. Captains Atef and Fendi have both earned praise for being friendly, flexible, and good at finding pleasant swimming spots.

I like the freedom to choose between swimming, snorkeling, photos, or quiet time on deck. I also like the value for a group of up to eight, since the $259 price covers the boat rather than one seat. The main drawback is the short two-hour duration. You can see a lot, but you may need to choose between a full Comino circuit and extra time along Gozo’s coast.

Key points to know

• Private boat for up to eight people: You get the boat, skipper, fuel, and cooler for your own group.
• Flexible route: Weather permitting, you can discuss which Comino and Gozo spots you want to visit.
• Popular swim stops: The Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Comino Caves, and Mgarr ix-Xini are among the main possibilities.
• Helpful skippers: Atef and Fendi are specifically praised for their friendly manner and local guidance.
• Simple meeting points: You can meet near the kiosk at Cirkewwa, Marfa Jetty, or Mgarr Harbour in Gozo.
• Plan for the sea: Bring swimwear, a towel, camera, beachwear, and sun protection. Seasickness can be an issue.

Why a private boat makes sense around Comino

Comino is famous for clear water, pale limestone, and crowded shore access around its best-known bays. A private boat lets you see the coast from the water and choose how much time you spend swimming instead of following a fixed group schedule.

You are not buying a luxury yacht outing. This is a practical, small-group boat charter with a skipper. That distinction matters. The boat gives you privacy and flexibility, but the advertised duration is only two hours, and the route depends on sea conditions and boat availability.

For a couple, the price is a bigger spend than a shared boat ride. For six to eight people, it becomes much more reasonable. At $259 per group, eight people would pay about $32 each before any transport costs, while a smaller group pays more per person for the same private boat.

The private format works especially well if your group has different interests. One person can swim, another can take photos, and someone else can stay aboard with the cooler. You can also ask the skipper to spend more time at a favorite spot, subject to weather and the remaining time.

Starting at Cirkewwa, Marfa, or Mgarr Harbour

The usual meeting point is near the kiosk at Cirkewwa, at Marfa Jetty, or at Mgarr Harbour on Gozo. Confirm the exact point when you book, since the starting harbor affects how much coast you can cover in two hours.

Cirkewwa is a useful launch point for Comino. From here, the boat can reach the island’s bays and channels without spending the whole outing getting into position. If you start at Mgarr, you may have a better chance to include a section of Gozo’s coast, though the final route remains weather dependent.

Allow time to find the skipper and do not arrive at the last minute. The meeting information refers to a kiosk or jetty area rather than one large terminal, so having the captain’s contact details handy is sensible.

The boat comes with a skipper, fuel, snorkeling equipment, and a cooler with ice. You need to supply your own swimwear, towel, beachwear, camera, and suntan lotion. Transport to and from the harbor is not included, so you must arrange that separately.

Comino’s Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the headline stop for many people. Its clear water and pale seabed make it a fine place for a swim and photographs, but its popularity also means it can feel busy around the shore. Seeing it from a private boat gives you a different angle and lets you avoid treating the beach area as your only option.

The Crystal Lagoon offers another strong reason to stay on the water. It is reached by boat rather than simply wandering over from the main landing area, and the supplied information notes that the area is roughly a 10-minute walk from a nearby point on Comino. That makes a boat stop useful if you want to swim there without building your whole outing around a walk.

The two lagoons are not interchangeable. The Blue Lagoon is the famous name and likely the one you will want to photograph. Crystal Lagoon can feel like a more focused swimming stop, depending on the skipper’s route and the sea conditions.

You should ask the captain how the timing will work before setting off. The supplied schedule gives a 45-hour photo stop at Comino, which cannot fit with a two-hour charter and appears to be a timing error. It also lists one hour at the Blue Lagoon. Confirm the intended minutes and the total time directly when booking.

Caves, limestone, and the Comino coastline

Comino’s caves and rock formations are best appreciated from the boat. You can look into openings along the shore, watch the color of the water change near the rock, and take photographs without being tied to a beach.

The Comino Caves are also known as a popular site for underwater activities. You should not assume that the charter is a specialist scuba outing, though. Snorkeling equipment is included, while the description does not promise scuba gear or a formal scuba session.

This is where the skipper can add real value. Fendi is specifically praised for taking a group around Comino, along Gozo’s coast, and to caves and rock formations. That kind of local route knowledge matters during a short charter because you have little time to work out the best order yourself.

The boat is also a good platform for a photo stop. Instead of rushing ashore, you can keep your group together, take pictures from the water, and move on when you are ready. If your priority is seeing every named location, though, two hours may feel tight.

Gebla Tal-Halfa and the quieter side of the trip

Gebla Tal-Halfa is described as a small, deserted islet and limestone rock southeast of Comino. It is not the sort of stop you choose for a long land visit. Its appeal is the view from the boat, the open water around it, and the contrast with the busier lagoon areas.

A route past Gebla Tal-Halfa can give your charter a more varied feel. You get well-known swimming areas, rock scenery, and smaller coastal features rather than one long stay in a single bay.

Do not expect every named place to receive equal time. The captain must balance cruising, photo stops, swimming, and the return to the harbor. Tell the skipper what matters most to you at the start. If your group wants a long swim, you may need to skip some sightseeing. If you want a full circuit and plenty of photos, your swim stops may be shorter.

Mgarr ix-Xini and Gozo’s coastal water

Mgarr ix-Xini is described as a beautiful spot for swimming and snorkeling, once known for being secluded. It gives you a chance to add Gozo to a Comino-focused outing and may suit you if your group prefers a calmer water stop to the busiest parts of the Blue Lagoon.

The exact amount of time at Mgarr ix-Xini depends on the starting harbor, sea conditions, and your chosen route. A boat leaving Cirkewwa has less time to devote to Gozo than one leaving Mgarr Harbour. That is not a flaw in the charter, but it is an important planning point.

The Gozo coast also gives you a change of scenery from Comino’s lagoons. Ask whether Mgarr ix-Xini or another Gozo section can fit before departure. The captain can accommodate requests when weather permits, but a private charter is not a promise that every location will be visited.

What the skipper adds to the day

A private charter is only as good as the person at the helm. Here, the strongest praise goes to the captains’ friendliness and willingness to adapt.

Atef is described as helpful, informative, and good company. One group gave him the freedom to choose the route and felt he took them to the spots they wanted. Fendi is praised for showing caves and rock formations, circling Comino, and finding good places for swimming and snorkeling.

Those details point to the right way to use the charter. Do not simply board and wait for a standard circuit. Tell the skipper whether your priority is:

• A swim at the Blue Lagoon
• Snorkeling at Crystal Lagoon or Mgarr ix-Xini
• Caves and rock formations
• A complete view around Comino
• Time along Gozo’s coast
• Quiet time aboard with fewer stops

The skipper still has to work within safe conditions and the two-hour limit. But a clear request at the start can make the outing feel more personal and prevent your group from spending precious minutes deciding what to do next.

Swimming, snorkeling, and what to bring

Snorkeling equipment is included, which is useful if you want to look beneath the surface without carrying your own kit. The charter description also supports swimming and simply relaxing on deck, so you do not need to make the trip an active water outing.

Bring swimwear and a towel even if you are not sure you will swim. Bring beachwear for the ride, a camera, and suntan lotion. Sun protection is especially important on a boat, where reflected light from the water can catch you even when the breeze feels cool.

The listing specifically says the charter is not suitable for people prone to seasickness. That warning deserves attention. A private boat does not remove the motion of the sea, and you cannot simply step ashore between stops. If someone in your group is sensitive, consider that before booking.

There is a cooler with ice, but no food or drinks are listed as included. The safest plan is to ask what you may bring and pack accordingly, rather than treating the cooler as a stocked bar or lunch service.

Is two hours enough for Comino and Gozo?

Two hours is enough for a taste of the area, especially if your main goal is one or two swim stops with some coastal sightseeing. It is also a good add-on to a day already spent near Cirkewwa or Gozo.

It is not enough for a leisurely exploration of every named location. The Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, Comino Caves, Gebla Tal-Halfa, and Mgarr ix-Xini are spread across different parts of the area. Add travel time, photo stops, swimming, and the return journey, and you will need to make choices.

The supplied schedule is inconsistent, listing a 45-hour Comino photo stop and a one-hour Blue Lagoon stop under a two-hour charter. Treat the two-hour duration as the reliable figure and ask the operator to clarify the intended stop lengths. If you want a slower outing, ask about booking more than two hours.

That extra time could be worth it for a larger group. You would spend less of the outing watching the clock and more time in the water or along Gozo’s coast. The supplied price is for a two-hour group booking, so longer options may cost more.

Who gets the best value from this charter

This boat suits a family or group of friends who want privacy and control. It is also a good choice for people who prefer not to spend the whole day on a crowded shared boat.

The best match is a group of four to eight people. At that size, the fixed group price spreads out well. A smaller party still gains privacy, but you should compare the total with shared boat options in the area.

You will get the most from it if you enjoy making choices as you go. This is not a museum visit with a long prepared talk. The attraction is the sea, the coast, the swim stops, and the ability to shape the route with the skipper.

It may not suit you if you need a long, fixed sightseeing program or if anyone in your group is prone to seasickness. It also may disappoint if you expect every listed bay and rock formation to receive a generous stop during two hours.

Booking, cancellation, and practical value

The $259 price covers up to eight people, the boat, skipper, fuel, snorkeling equipment, and a cooler with ice. Transport to the harbor, swimwear, towels, beachwear, and sun protection are your responsibility.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now-pay-later option keeps your money available until closer to the outing. Boats are subject to availability, so do not assume that a preferred departure time will remain open.

The captain speaks English, and an English audio guide is included in the activity information. In practice, the skipper’s direct help is likely to matter more than an audio guide during a short, flexible boat ride.

Should you book the Comino and Gozo charter?

Book it if you are a group that values privacy, swimming, and control over the route. The strongest reasons are the private boat for up to eight, the included snorkeling equipment, and the chance to ask captains such as Atef or Fendi for specific stops and coastal views.

Think twice if you want to see every attraction at a relaxed pace. Two hours passes quickly, and the timing details need clarification. If your group can agree on its top two or three priorities before boarding, this charter offers a practical way to enjoy Comino and part of Gozo without being tied to a larger tour.

FAQ

How long is the private boat charter?

The charter duration is two hours. Longer bookings may be available, but the supplied information does not give prices or exact options for extending the trip.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers a private group of up to eight people.

Where do I meet the skipper?

You meet near the kiosk at Cirkewwa, at Marfa Jetty, or at Mgarr Harbour in Gozo. Confirm the exact meeting point for your booking.

What places can the boat visit?

Possible stops include Comino’s Crystal Lagoon, the Blue Lagoon, Comino Caves, Gebla Tal-Halfa, Mgarr ix-Xini, and parts of Gozo’s coast.

Can I choose where the boat goes?

You can discuss your preferred locations with the captain. The captain can accommodate requests when weather conditions allow.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included with the charter.

Is fuel included in the price?

Yes. Fuel and the skipper are included.

Is food or drink included?

Food and drinks are not listed as included. The boat does include a cooler with ice.

Do I need to arrange transport to the harbor?

Yes. Transport to and from the harbor is not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, a camera, beachwear, and suntan lotion.

Is the charter suitable for people prone to seasickness?

No. The activity is not considered suitable for people prone to seasickness.

Can I cancel the booking?

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

Can I reserve now and pay later?

Yes. The reserve-now-pay-later option lets you book without paying immediately.