Caves and reefs, from your own boat. This 4-hour private Comino tour loops the best underwater spots, including Santa Maria Caves and the Blue Lagoon, with snorkeling plus cave swimming time. I love the slow, flexible pace of a private group, and I love that it runs on a traditional 12 meter luzzu. One thing to consider is that this is very water-time focused, so it helps to be comfortable getting in and out repeatedly.

Onboard, the boat setup is practical, not just pretty. You’ll find shade for breaks, and in the most helpful recent feedback I saw, people also noted a toilet, a sweet-water shower, and a fridge onboard.

Pickup is straightforward from either Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal or the Gleneagles Bar area. Plus, the tour includes snorkeling masks and even stand-up paddle boards, so you’re not stuck only drifting and hoping for the best.

Key highlights to look forward to

• Traditional luzzu boat chartered for your day, with a captain and deckhand guiding you in and around the caves
• Santa Maria Caves pond swim, including time to enter and walk inside before getting into the water
• Snorkeling stops on Cominotto reefs and wreck areas, with masks included
• Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon swimming, plus cave swims near Saint Mary’s tower views
• Onboard comfort breaks, with shade and the option to bring your own music

Entering Comino the private-boat way, on a 12 meter luzzu

Comino is small on the map, but it’s huge on water variety. You get classic postcard stops like the Blue Lagoon. You also get the less-crowded, more adventurous corners where caves and reefs shape the whole day. This private tour is built for exactly that, because you’re not stuck following a mass-group schedule.

The boat matters here. It’s a traditional 12 meter luzzu, the kind of colorful, fishing-style craft that people associate with Maltese coastal life. It’s large enough for a proper day on the water, and the feedback I saw points to real comfort, not just a seat and a prayer.

Your guide team includes the captain and a deckhand. They’re there to keep you safe and moving, especially around cave entrances and swim sections, where you do not want to be guessing.

Price and value: is $506 for a group up to 20 a smart deal?

The price is $506 per group for up to 20 people, for a total duration of 4 hours. That sounds like a lot until you frame it the right way: you’re paying for a private boat charter, fuel, and a guided cave-focused route, not just a ticket for a seat on a shared boat.

So who gets the best value? Typically, families, friend groups, or anyone traveling with a small crowd who wants privacy but still plans on doing real snorkeling. If you’re a solo traveler or a couple, you’ll likely want to compare this against shared tours, because the savings of group pricing only show up when you fill the boat.

You should also factor in the inclusions. Snorkeling masks, stand-up paddle board use, fishing equipment, ice coolers, and a Blue Lagoon pass are included. That reduces the usual add-ons that inflate the true cost of water tours.

One practical drawback: food and drinks are not included. The boat has an onboard bar setup, but if you want snacks or alcohol, you’ll likely pay there. Plan accordingly so you’re not surprised mid-swim when hunger hits.

Pickup at Cirkewwa or Gleneagles Bar, then out past the busy stuff

You’ll start from one of two pickup points. Option one is the Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal area. Option two is the Gleneagles Bar. Both are on Malta’s north side, which is helpful because you’re not crisscrossing the island before you even reach Comino.

From Cirkewwa, the boat will be in the ferry marshaling area, or waiting to berth. From the Gleneagles Bar option, the boat is moored near the pontoon area by the seaside. In plain terms: go early enough to find your boat without stress. The day starts with the water, so your first job is just to get on board calmly.

There’s also a short sightseeing cruise segment early on. It’s not the main event, but it helps you settle in and get a feel for the route before you start swimming.

Blue Lagoon: the swim-and-snorkel start that sets the tone

Your first big stop is the Blue Lagoon. You’ll have around an hour here for swimming and snorkeling, with scenic viewing time along the way. This is the familiar name for a reason. The water quality and visibility are exactly what make the Blue Lagoon the headliner.

There’s also a natural cave you can swim through, plus a sandy beach where you can get your bearings between water sessions. If you like variety in one stop, this is a strong start. You get open-water swimming, a cave section, and a beach moment where you can actually dry off and reset.

A useful reality check: the Blue Lagoon is popular. That’s true for most Comino hotspots. The private nature of the tour helps you avoid feeling trapped in a single line of people. Still, expect an active atmosphere compared to quieter bays later on.

On this stop you can find kiosks nearby for fast food and cold drinks. Just remember food and drinks aren’t included in the tour price.

Cominotto Beach and calmer water rhythm

After the Blue Lagoon, you move toward Cominotto Beach. This is another swimming stop, but the vibe usually feels less like a single crowd zone and more like a breather before the cave-heavy parts.

The emphasis here is marine life viewing and water time, with the reef environment doing a lot of the work for you. Even if you’re not a lifelong snorkeler, clear water plus a good mask usually makes the experience feel richer than you expected.

If you’re traveling with mixed comfort levels in swimming, this is a decent moment to match your pace. Some people snorkel hard. Others float, watch, and use the included gear at a slower tempo.

The Sant Marija (Santa Maria) Caves: the cave swim moment you’ll remember

Now for the signature stop: the Santa Maria Caves experience. This part is about more than passing by rock formations. You get to see the caves and you also go inside.

Here’s the key difference between just viewing caves and actually doing them: you’re guided to the way in, then you walk in for about 10 meters and find a pond inside the cave area. After that, it’s possible to swim in the pond, and if you’re a good diver, you can dive under to pass through to the other side.

The guide experience is important. Cave swim sections can be harder to navigate than open water because landmarks are limited. Having a deckhand who knows the route helps you feel less like you’re winging it.

There’s also a movie trivia note in the tour description. The inside of this cave is where the Count of Monte Cristo was filmed. You don’t need to be a film buff for that to matter, but it adds an extra layer of fun once you’re standing there.

Practical tip: bring a mindset for this stop where you’re ready for water and covered moments inside the cave space. The reward is that you’re not just snorkeling reefs, you’re doing a true cave encounter.

Elephant Rock and the move to Crystal Lagoon

Between the cave segment and the next lagoon, you pass by Elephant Rock. Think of this as a scenic checkpoint rather than a long activity break.

After that, the tour finishes the mid-afternoon highlight run at Crystal Lagoon. You’ll get about an hour here for swimming, snorkeling, and marine life viewing, plus hiking time. Crystal Lagoon is known for those spots where the seabed and cave shapes create natural, photo-friendly angles.

There are two caves visible here. One special cave lies just under Saint Mary’s tower. You swim inside, and at the end you reach a sandy beach. Another cave can be entered and exited from both sides, so it tends to feel less dark and easier to swim through.

If you like cliff-jumping, Crystal Lagoon is also described as a good spot for that. I’d treat that as optional and only do it if you feel fully confident in your comfort level and current water conditions that day.

Saint Mary’s Tower views and the short walk that helps you breathe

At Saint Mary’s Tower, you’ll have hiking time and scenic views. This is the land-based reset you’ll appreciate after cave swimming. Even on a water-heavy tour, that little bit of walking and looking outward matters, because your eyes need a break from constantly focusing on water texture.

From the description, the tower is close enough to be reached by walk from the lagoon area (about 10 minutes). If you’re not into walking, you might still enjoy staying near the group for the viewpoints, then returning to water time when you’re ready.

Wreck and reef time: P31 wreck and Cominotto Reef snorkeling

Later in the route, you move into more underwater variety with two named snorkeling areas.

First is the P31 wreck, where swimming and snorkeling are included. The described depth is about 25 meters for the wreck. You won’t necessarily be swimming at that exact depth in a casual snorkel session, but you should expect the area to be chosen specifically because the water and visibility make it worth aiming for.

Then you go to Cominotto Reef for swimming and snorkeling and marine life viewing. Reef areas generally reward careful mask use and slow movement. If you rush, you scare fish and you stir silt. If you slow down, the water does the storytelling for you.

In both of these stops, you get the included snorkeling masks. That may sound minor, but it’s one of those small things that removes friction. You can just go in, focus on seeing, and not waste time sourcing gear.

More cave areas around Comino: Bla Saqaf and other cave names

The itinerary also includes a guided stop in the cave area listed as L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf / It-Tieqa / Taħt il-Ħnejja. This is another guided tour and swimming time.

The value of having these additional cave stops is simple: Comino’s best features are not only on the surface. The coast and underwater openings create a patchwork of swim-friendly sections. If you only did one cave, you’d still have a good day. If you do multiple, you start to understand how the island’s geology shapes the water.

And because these are guided, you’re more likely to find the right entrances and swimming spots without wasting time or energy.

Your onboard “base camp”: toilets, shower, shade, and a place to cool off

One of the clearest praises in the feedback I saw was the boat itself. People pointed out there’s a toilet onboard and a sweet-water shower. They also mentioned a fridge and lots of shade at the back where you can relax with snacks.

That matters because you’ll be going from water to onboard to water again. A private boat is nice when the weather turns. It’s nicer still when you can actually rinse off and dry out a bit.

You may also be able to bring your own music. One recent review specifically mentioned that option, which makes it feel more like a private day out and less like a tour bus on waves.

If you want to keep the day fun and not frantic, use the onboard time between swim stops to:

• reapply sunscreen
• drink water
• eat something even if food isn’t included (or buy it via onboard/bar options)

Who should book this Comino private boat tour?

You’ll like this tour if you want a private group experience and you care about doing more than floating in one lagoon. Cave swimming plus snorkeling around reefs and wreck areas is a strong match for people who want variety in one half-day.

It’s also a good choice for families, based on the feedback that called it a family-friendly setup with helpful service and a comfortable boat. It can work for mixed ages because the itinerary includes both active swim time and breaks on sandy beaches.

This is less ideal for travelers who hate water time or who prefer staying mostly on land. The schedule includes multiple swimming and snorkeling sections and cave entry experiences.

Finally, it can be great for couples and friend groups who want privacy, but you’ll get the most out of it when you can share the group cost to bring the per-person value down.

Should you book it, or pick something simpler?

Book this tour if you want to hit the major Comino highlights and also do the cave moments that people usually only see from outside. The Santa Maria Caves pond swim, Crystal Lagoon cave swims, and additional cave areas make this feel like a real exploration route rather than a single-point sightseeing day.

Skip it or compare alternatives if:

• you don’t plan to snorkel or swim much
• you’re expecting the tour to include meals and drinks
• your group wants a slower, mostly on-land experience

If you want one practical decision tool: ask yourself if your group is ready to spend a few hours switching between sun, water, and caves. If yes, this is a strong value private charter.

FAQ

How long is the Comino private boat tour?

The duration is 4 hours.

What does the tour cost, and how many people are included?

It costs $506 per group, up to 20 people.

What snorkeling and water gear is included?

Snorkeling masks are included, and stand-up paddle board use is also included.

Does the tour include cave activities and swimming?

Yes. The route includes stops for cave sightseeing and swimming, including the Santa Maria Caves experience and additional cave areas.

Where are the pickup and drop-off points?

Pickup and drop-off are available at either Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal or Gleneagles Bar.

Is food and drinks included in the price?

No. Food and drinks are not included, though there is an onboard bar setup mentioned in the tour description.