Blue Lagoon, Comino and Caves Tour with Private Rib Boat

Comino is best seen from the water, and this private RIB tour gives you the freedom to move between its famous lagoons, quiet bays, and hard-to-reach caves. I especially like the small private group, capped at eight, and the way the route mixes swimming with coastal sights rather than treating the Blue Lagoon as the whole show. Skipper Francesco is praised for his easy manner, local knowledge, and care on the water.

The main catch is the extra €99 fuel surcharge, which is added per booking. Three hours is enough for a brisk tour, but not enough to linger at every stop, and the most popular parts of Comino can still feel busy in high season.

Key points at a glance

• Private RIB for up to eight: You share the boat only with your own group, making it easier to ask for a quieter bay or extra swimming time.
• Blue Lagoon without a land pass: You can enjoy the lagoon from the boat without pre-booking the new shore-access pass.
• Caves are a major part of the route: Lovers Cave, Santa Maria Caves, Popeye’s Cave, and several natural arches are viewed from the sea.
• Swimming equipment and water included: Masks and snorkels, bottled water, and an ice cooler are provided.
• Several swimming locations: Crystal Lagoon, Cominotto, Blue Lagoon, and Santa Marija Bay offer different settings for a dip.
• Extra cost to budget for: The advertised price is $311.18 per group, plus a €99 fuel surcharge per booking.

Why a private boat makes Comino easier

Comino is small, but its best sights are spread around a rugged coast. A public boat can show you the headline views, yet a private RIB gives you more control over the day. You can ask the skipper to linger at a cave, move on from a crowded swimming area, or spend more time in the water when conditions allow.

The group limit is eight people. That matters if you are traveling with family or friends, since the price is per group rather than per person. At the full eight-person capacity, the base price works out to about $39 per person before the fuel charge. For a couple, it becomes a much more expensive outing, so the value is strongest for a small group that can share the cost.

The boat is described as clean, spacious, and comfortable, with a new Zodiac used on some outings and two powerful 300-horsepower engines. You should expect a fast, open-water ride rather than a quiet cruise. That is part of the fun, but bring sun protection and be ready for spray and movement on the boat.

Gozoblu is a small family-run operator. Francesco is one of the skippers, and the company also uses captains such as Matthew. Francesco grew up in Gozo and is praised for explaining the islands, answering questions, and making the trip feel personal without pushing the pace.

St. Mary’s Tower and Lovers Cave

The tour starts by passing 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 once helped protect the islands from attack.

Film fans may recognize the tower as the prison Château d’If in the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo. You will view it from the water, so this is a sightseeing stop rather than a visit inside the fort. The sea-level view is still useful because it shows how sharply the tower rises above the coast.

Below the fort, the boat enters Lovers Cave. This is a small, romantic sea cave reached only by water. The captain can take you inside for photos and a quiet look at the rock walls, though the experience depends on sea conditions and the boat’s ability to enter safely.

Popeye’s Cave and Comino’s natural skylight

L-Għar ta’ Bla Saqaf translates roughly as the cave without a roof. Part of the ceiling has collapsed, leaving a large opening that lets sunlight pour into the cave. Locally it is also called It-Tieqa or Taħt il-Ħnejja, and many people know it as Popeye’s Cave because it appeared in the 1980s film Popeye with Robin Williams.

This is one of the more interesting cave stops because you are not simply looking into a dark hollow. The opening changes the light inside, and the pale rock and clear water make it a good place for photographs.

The boat usually spends about 15 minutes here. That is enough for a look and some pictures, but not a long exploration. The best photos will depend on the sun, the water, and how close the skipper can safely bring the RIB.

Crystal Lagoon, cliffs, and the P31 wreck

Crystal Lagoon is one of the strongest parts of the outing. It sits on Comino’s western side, surrounded by high limestone cliffs and clear turquoise water. The boat anchors here for about 30 minutes, giving you time to swim, use the provided snorkel gear, and enter nearby caves.

Compared with the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon can feel more sheltered and less dominated by shore activity. The cliffs also offer different jump heights for confident swimmers. Still, cliff jumping is not a requirement, and you should only enter the water from a height that feels safe for you.

The route also includes the P31, a former Maltese patrol boat sunk in 2009 to create an artificial reef. It rests upright on the seabed between 18 and 20 meters deep, with its highest point only about seven meters below the surface. On a clear day, you may be able to see the whole wreck while snorkeling or swimming above it.

The P31 is an unusual sight because it combines local maritime history with an active marine site. Fish and smaller sea life use the wreck for shelter. The boat does not replace a full wreck excursion, but it adds a worthwhile underwater feature to a coastal tour.

Cominotto Reef and the islet of Cominotto

Near Cominotto, the boat reaches Anchor Reef, also called Cominotto Reef. The reef has drop-offs, overhangs, and swim-throughs, with underwater depths ranging from 10 to 40 meters. Octopuses, moray eels, and colorful fish may be seen in the clear water.

For a short boat excursion, this is a good chance to use your mask and snorkel somewhere less ordinary than a sandy bay. Strong swimmers and experienced free divers may appreciate the deeper formations, while beginners should stay in water that matches their ability.

Cominotto itself is an uninhabited islet just across from the Blue Lagoon. It has a small sandy beach, rough limestone cliffs, and a sea tunnel that you can reach by swimming. The area is also associated with Troy and Swept Away, both filmed around Comino and Cominotto.

The film connection is a fun extra, but the real reason to stop is the water. Cominotto gives you a more natural setting than the packed edges of the Blue Lagoon, though space and access depend on the day’s conditions.

The Blue Lagoon without the shore-access hassle

The Blue Lagoon is Malta’s famous postcard view, with bright turquoise water and a pale seabed between Comino and Cominotto. It is also the place most likely to be crowded. The private boat helps because you can admire the lagoon from the water without joining the mass of people on shore.

New regulations require a pre-booking pass if you want to go onto the land at the Blue Lagoon. That pass is not needed if you remain on the boat. This tour therefore works well for people who mainly want to swim, take photographs, and see the lagoon from a good angle.

You should not expect an empty lagoon. Its popularity is the point, and the water can be busy with boats and swimmers. The benefit here is flexibility. Your skipper can look for a quieter position or move you toward nearby coves rather than leaving you tied to a single shore area.

The planned stop is about 30 minutes. That gives you enough time for a refreshing swim and photographs, but a full day of lounging would call for a longer booking.

San Niklaw Bay and Santa Marija Bay

San Niklaw Bay is a quieter stop on Comino’s northern coast. Its clear water, rough cliffs, and Mediterranean plants give you a calmer setting after the Blue Lagoon. You can swim, snorkel, or stay aboard and enjoy the view.

Santa Marija Bay is another peaceful alternative to the main lagoon. Its shallow water and sandy beach make it a sensible choice for families and anyone who prefers an easy swim. The bay is also home to Santa Marija Chapel, built in 1618, giving the stop a small but meaningful cultural detail.

The scheduled time here is about 30 minutes. That is long enough to settle into the water instead of rushing through a quick photo stop. If you want the quietest feel, ask the skipper about the order of the route and how conditions may affect the bays.

Windows, caves, and Elephant Rock

Għemieri Window is a limestone arch shaped by wind and water. From the boat, you get the full view of the opening, cliffs, and sea rather than a close land-level look. It is mainly a scenic and photo stop.

The Santa Maria Caves are more involved. They form a network of narrow passages and rock chambers on Comino’s northeastern coast. The skipper guides the boat through the openings where possible, and sunlight reflects from the water onto the cave walls.

This is the kind of experience that makes a private boat useful. A large vessel may not fit into the smaller passages, while a RIB can approach the rock more closely. Even so, sea conditions control how far inside the boat can go.

Elephant Rock is another coastal formation shaped into a recognizable outline. From the water, you can see the rock arch and the features that suggest an eye and a trunk. It is a short viewing stop, but the unusual shape gives you one more memorable image from the trip.

Saint Mary’s Battery and the return route

Saint Mary’s Battery is an 18th-century coastal fort built by the Knights of St. John. It once watched the sea route and helped guard against pirate and Ottoman attacks. Like St. Mary’s Tower, it is viewed from the boat rather than entered.

Seeing both fortifications from the water helps you understand Comino’s old defensive role. The island is now associated with swimming and caves, but these stone structures show that its position between Malta and Gozo once had serious military value.

The route includes many stops, but the stated duration is about three hours. The timing should be treated as a framework rather than a promise that every location receives equal attention. Caves, swimming, and weather can change the pace.

What the price includes, and what it does not

The base price is $311.18 per group of up to eight people. Bottled water, snorkeling equipment, and an ice cooler are included. The advertised price does not include the €99 fuel surcharge per booking, so add that before comparing this outing with shared boat trips.

For a full group, the cost can be good value. You get a private boat, a skipper, several swimming locations, cave access, and the ability to avoid the most crowded public-boat routine. For two people, the total is harder to justify unless privacy and flexibility matter more to you than keeping costs low.

The tour is also booked around 54 days ahead on average. That suggests you should not leave it until the last few days if your Malta dates are fixed, especially in the warmer months. Confirmation arrives at booking, and free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time.

The tour needs good weather. If poor conditions cancel it, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. That policy is useful for a sea outing, where safety and comfort depend heavily on wind and waves.

Who will enjoy this Comino tour most

I would choose this for a group of friends, a family, or a couple celebrating a special day who wants private use of the boat. It suits confident swimmers, snorkelers, photographers, and people who would rather see several places than spend a whole afternoon at one beach.

It also works for visitors who dislike large organized cruises. The private format means you can speak directly with the skipper and ask questions about the forts, caves, films, and coast. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part, though you should consider your comfort with an open RIB and movement on the water.

This is less suitable if you want a slow beach day, a long visit ashore, or a guaranteed empty Blue Lagoon. The boat reaches many sites, but the schedule is active. You will spend part of the three hours moving between bays and formations.

Should you book it?

Book this private RIB tour if you have a group large enough to share the cost and want Comino’s caves and swimming spots in one compact outing. The strongest reasons are the private setting, the flexible route, the P31 wreck viewing, and access to places that are awkward to reach by land.

Before paying, add the €99 fuel surcharge and check the weather forecast. If your main goal is the Blue Lagoon alone, a cheaper shared boat may do. If you want a personal skipper, several swims, cave passages, and a better chance of escaping the busiest water, Gozoblu is a strong choice.

FAQ

How long is the Blue Lagoon, Comino and Caves Tour?

The tour lasts approximately three hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

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

Is the Blue Lagoon shore-access pass included?

You do not need a pre-booking pass if you stay on the boat. The supplied information does not state that a shore-access pass is included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with bottled water and an ice cooler.

Is there an extra fuel charge?

Yes. A €99 fuel surcharge is charged per booking and is not included in the advertised base price.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if poor weather causes the experience to be canceled.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 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.