Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour

REVIEW · COMINO ISLAND TOURS

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour

4.3 · 341 reviews From $101 Operated by Barbarossa Excursions and Boat Charters · Bookable on GetYourGuide
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Two islands in one day, plus serious blue water. This combo mixes a Gozo jeep tour with lagoon time at Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon, so you see scenery and then actually use it. One thing to consider: the boat portion can shift with weather, and the day moves pretty fast.

I like that you get a full-on island overview, not just a ferry drop and a photo line. Lunch is a real perk too, with a freshly-prepared buffet and local wine plus mineral water. It is not a relaxed, sit-down day the whole way, and it also is not a fit for everyone physically.

The route also sneaks in Gozo’s iconic stops, including Xwejni Salt Pans, Calypso Cave in Xagħra, the viewpoint areas around Qala, and Ta’ Pinu. If you want the extra cave experiences at Comino, plan for small add-on fees.

Key highlights worth your attention

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour - Key highlights worth your attention

  • Gozo by jeep with multilingual guides: towns, villages, viewpoints, and backroad storytelling
  • Crystal Lagoon + Blue Lagoon swim time: scheduled water stops, not just a pass-by
  • Buffet lunch with local wine and mineral water: included, and it changes the value equation
  • Gozo landmarks like Xwejni Salt Pans and Calypso Cave: short guided stops with great photo angles
  • Snorkel masks and snorkels available on board: helpful if you want to get in the water
  • Comino caves and cliff-tunnel moments: optional add-on cave time if you want more than swimming

Why this Gozo and Comino day works better than a pick-and-choose plan

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour - Why this Gozo and Comino day works better than a pick-and-choose plan
This tour is built around momentum. You start on Gozo with a jeep route designed to show the island beyond the main roads. Then you shift to Comino for water time where the scenery is the point, not the drive.

If you are short on time in Malta, the value is that your transportation is handled and you are not trying to coordinate ferries, taxis, and timed boat tickets on your own. The included lunch, plus unlimited local wine and water, is also a big deal for comfort and cost. You do not have to guess where to eat or pay extra for every drink.

The tradeoff is that you are moving through multiple areas in one day. That is great if you like variety. It is not great if you want long beach lounging or slow pacing.

Gozo by jeep: charming towns, viewpoints, and the Salt Pans at Xwejni

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour - Gozo by jeep: charming towns, viewpoints, and the Salt Pans at Xwejni
On Gozo, the jeep portion is the main way to see a lot without renting a car. You get a guided route with photo stops and short guided segments, so you can actually learn what you are looking at while still getting a taste of each place.

Here is what the Gozo side tends to feel like, stop by stop:

Mgarr Harbour area

You start with a guided visit around Mgarr Harbour. It is short, but it helps you get your bearings. Once you are out of the harbor area, the jeep route becomes more about viewpoints and village charm than big museum time.

Break time and village scenery

There is a break block on the timetable (free time around an hour). This is your moment to slow down, grab water, and reset before the next cluster of stops.

Belle Vedere in Qala

Next comes Belle Vedere, Qala, a stop that is there for the views. Qala is one of those places where you can see the island’s shape quickly, which makes later stops easier to understand.

Qala photo stop

There is also a Qala photo stop and a short guided segment. Think of this as a chance to get better angles, especially if you want pictures of the coastline and countryside without driving around.

Calypso Cave in Xagħra

Calypso Cave, Xagħra is on the route as a photo stop plus guided info. You are not building a full hiking plan here. You get a short orientation and then you move on, which fits the overall half-day structure.

Xwejni Salt Pans near Zebbug

This is one of the most memorable stops on the Gozo side: Xwejni Salt Pans, Zebbug. It is also one of the places where the geography tells a story fast. Salt pans are functional and human-sized, not just scenic cliffs. If you like seeing how people shaped the land, this stop is for you.

Ta’ Pinu pass-by

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Ta’ Pinu is listed as a pass-by. You are not lingering inside on this format, but you do get the chance to see it from the road and take a few photos.

Dwejra Bay photo stop and optional inland sea add-on

Finally, there is Dwejra Bay with break time, photos, and a guided stop. The timetable also flags an optional inland-sea boat activity at Dwejra Bay. If you want more water-based scenery, that is where you would likely add it.

The Mgarr wrap-up

You end the Gozo portion around Mgarr with a short photo stop. It is a natural “transition” point before you head back toward Malta and the Comino cruise segment.

Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon: swim time that fits the day

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour - Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon: swim time that fits the day
Comino is where the tour turns into water-and-views. You spend about an hour at Crystal Lagoon and about an hour at Blue Lagoon, with photo stops and scheduled swimming time at each.

A practical win here: masks and snorkels are available for free on board. Even if you do not swim far, having gear makes the water time more satisfying. You also get a better shot at seeing fish and reef textures without paying rental fees.

What to do at each lagoon

At Crystal Lagoon, treat the first part as settling in. The water is the headline, but you also want time to get your footing, rinse off, and find a comfortable spot to float or swim.

At Blue Lagoon, plan for the fact that the best photos usually mean you are moving around a bit. The tour structure gives you the time window to do that, rather than a quick, rushed stop.

Timing and crowds

The tour description is specifically aiming to help you avoid heavy crowds by using a cruise format. Real-world crowds still depend on season and weather, but you are not doing a chaotic free-for-all where you lose track of your group.

Lunch with unlimited local wine and mineral water: the value lever

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour - Lunch with unlimited local wine and mineral water: the value lever
Food can make or break day tours. Here, lunch is a real included benefit, not a sad afterthought.

You get a freshly-prepared buffet lunch, and the package includes local wine plus mineral water. The lunch might be on the boat, or it might be at the mariblu Restaurant on Gozo, depending on how your schedule starts.

That flexibility matters because it changes how you feel during the day. If lunch lands on the boat, you already have water time nearby and you are not constantly switching locations. If lunch is on Gozo, you get a more traditional meal break before the next set of stops.

What I’d do: if you drink the included wine, pace yourself. You are still going to be in sun and walking short distances around viewpoints. That way, you keep energy for swimming rather than turning the day into a nap.

Comino cruise and cave time: where the cliff scenery gets specific

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour - Comino cruise and cave time: where the cliff scenery gets specific
There are two different Comino experiences in the plan. One is about lagoon swimming. The other is about caves and cliff features, which is where the tour adds story and variety.

Return boat passing lagoons and sea caves

The tour includes a return transfer by boat that passes Comino’s Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and sea caves, subject to weather conditions. Even if you mostly care about the swimming, that “pass-by” portion helps you see coastline details you might miss from land.

Boat dinghy through a cliff tunnel and the topless cave

For the more dramatic cave moments, the description explains a dinghy trip through a tunnel in the cliff, plus a visit to a topless cave where the top has fallen in. There is an extra fee for these cave trips, and the listing notes it is not included.

If you like photos and geology, this is worth considering. It also adds a different flavor from just floating in the lagoons. But it is not included, so you should decide based on your budget and your tolerance for extra steps and fees.

Long cave near Comino’s fortress film location

There is also a mention of a long cave below the fortress of Comino, used in the filming of The Count of Monte Christo. That connection helps you picture the cave stop as more than a random detour. It is part of what makes Comino feel like a place with layers of story.

Price and value: what $101 is buying you, and what it is not

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour - Price and value: what $101 is buying you, and what it is not
At about $101 per person, the big question is whether this package is cheaper than piecing it together yourself. In practice, the included items make the math easier:

  • Transport: pickup, Gozo ferry tickets when required, and return transfer by boat
  • Experiences: jeep tour around Gozo plus Comino boat cruise time
  • Food and drinks: buffet lunch with local wine and mineral water
  • Water time: Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon swimming windows
  • Extras that reduce friction: masks and snorkels are available on board

What is not included is also pretty clear, and you should check it before you go:

  • Entrance fees for museums and Ggantija Temples (optional entry)
  • Extra drinks, tea, and coffee
  • Cave trips cost 10 euro per person
  • Optional activities like the inland sea boat trip at Dwejra Bay

So the value is strongest if you plan to do the lagoons and the jeep route, and if you want the included lunch instead of hunting down a meal.

If you already know you will skip the cave add-on and you are comfortable navigating independently with your own transport, then the price may feel less justified. But for a one-day sampler that covers a lot of terrain, it is competitive.

Timing, pickup points, and the stress-proof way to plan your day

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour - Timing, pickup points, and the stress-proof way to plan your day
This tour runs about 6.5 hours, but real life is always a little messier than schedules. You are doing hotel pickup, a transfer, boat time to Comino, then the Gozo jeep route and multiple short stops.

Pickup: bring patience, not assumptions

Pickup is included with many possible hotel and meeting points. In general, you wait outside the hotel or at the specified pickup point. With so many pickup locations, the order can shift and your first segment can feel longer than you expected.

Weather can change the boat

The boat tour is subject to weather conditions. If the sea is rough, the schedule can adjust, and sometimes you may end up using a different transfer method. This matters most if you have tight evening plans back in Malta.

Plan your evening like a grown-up

Because the itinerary depends on water conditions and the day is movement-heavy, I suggest building in a buffer for dinner reservations. If you schedule something right after the stated end time, you are taking a chance.

A simple strategy: eat early, keep your evening flexible, and pack swim gear so you are not hunting for towel time at the last second.

Who should book this Gozo and Comino combo?

Book it if you want variety in a short window: jeep touring on Gozo plus lagoon swimming and Comino caves. It also works well if you do not want the hassle of arranging a car or stitching together multiple tickets.

It especially suits:

  • First-time Malta visitors who want Gozo’s highlights without over-planning
  • People who enjoy short guided stops and then free time to swim
  • Groups who want one organized day with included lunch and drinks

Skip it if:

  • You are pregnant
  • You use a wheelchair or have mobility impairments
  • You want a slow pace with minimal walking or standing

Also, if you are traveling with kids, note the age rule: children under 12 need to prove they are under that age, with a passport copy required.

FAQ

Malta: Around Comino Boat Trip with Gozo Guided Jeep Tour - FAQ

FAQ

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes Gozo jeep touring with experienced drivers, multilingual explanations, a buffet lunch with local wine and mineral water, a swim stop at a bay in Gozo (summer season), return transfer by boat passing Comino lagoons and sea caves subject to weather, and roundtrip Gozo ferry tickets when required.

How long does the experience last?

The duration listed is 6.5 hours. Starting times vary, so you’ll see exact options when you check availability.

Are there swim stops and snorkeling gear?

Yes. You have swimming time at Crystal Lagoon and Blue Lagoon. On board, masks and snorkels are available for free. There is also a swim stop at a bay in Gozo in summer season.

Is the boat part affected by weather?

Yes. The boat tour is subject to weather conditions, so the schedule can change if conditions are not ideal.

Where is pickup, and how do I find the right meeting point?

Pickup is included. You wait outside the main entrance of your hotel or at the pickup point provided by the local partner.

What extra costs might I have to pay?

Entrance fees to museums and Ggantija Temples are not included. Cave trips cost 10 euro per person. Extra drinks, tea, and coffee are not included. Optional activities like the inland sea boat trip at Dwejra Bay are also not included.

Is Ggantija Temples included?

No. Admission to the Temples of Ġgantija is not included (optional entry).

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or pregnant travelers?

No. It is not suitable for wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, or pregnant women.

Should you book this Gozo and Comino tour?

I’d book it if you want a single day that covers Gozo’s viewpoints, villages, and salt pans, then rewards you with scheduled lagoon swimming at Comino plus a proper included lunch. The combination of jeep touring + lagoon time + buffet with local wine is what makes the day feel worth it.

I’d think twice if you hate tight schedules, are sensitive to changes caused by weather, or you know you cannot manage the mobility demands. If you are flexible, pack swimwear, wear comfortable shoes, and plan a relaxed evening after, this is a strong way to see more of Gozo and Comino than you could do on your own in one half-day.