Nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta is a treasure trove of history, culture, and natural beauty. Among its many jewels is the tiny, picturesque island of Comino. Known for its stunning lagoons and dramatic caves, Comino offers a perfect escape for those seeking tranquility and adventure in equal measure.
On a sunny day, a friend and I embarked on a boat trip from Sliema, Malta to explore Comino, eager to sea its beuaty for ourselves. From the shimmering waters of the Blue Lagoon to the mystical Santa Maria caves, each stop promised to be a unique and unforgettable experience. It did not disappoint!
Boarding and departure
Our boat tour started in Sliema, one of the many ports throughout Malta. Many boats go from Sliema to sightsee in Comino or travel to Malta’s third island, Gozo.
We were staying in SO City Hotel Adults Only in St Julian’s, Malta, so we took the bus to Sliema. The boat was leaving at 11 a.m. and it was going to be a 7.5-hour tour, so we decided to leave at 10 a.m.. The bus should only take 30 minutes at most but as we did not konw what traffic would be like, we decided to play it safe.
When we arrived at the port, we were able to immediately board the boat after giving our names and they checked them against a list. Since we had not booked an optional extension to see Victoria on Gozo by bus (more on that later), we did not get a special wristband.
The boat had two levels. The upper level was open air with metallic seats in rows facing forwards. It was also covered by a canopy, offering shade to those who decided to sit up there. The lower level had booths which occupied the main section. There was also a small area to sit outside at the prow (front) of the boat and a set of toilets (one male, one female), a bar/grill area and the area to board at the back.
We decided to take one of the booths on the port (left) side and sat next to the windows for a good view of Malta island as we would be going along it. We were joined by two women from Greece – the booth could comfortably fit 6 – and we had a nice conversation with them for part of the trip.
The tour left a couple of minutes after the scheduled departure time. Due to its location, as you sail out of Marsamxett Harbour, you have an excellent view of Valletta – Malta’s capital, a fortified city that was once the seat of the Knight’s Templar.
The boat sailed along the northeastern coast of Malta to get to Comino with the tour guide giving information about the sites in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian. This took about half an hour. Then we sailed on the eastern and northern side of the Comino first. The reason is because our first stop was going to be Gozo to let off those passengers who had also booked a bus trip to Victoria, Gozo’s main city.
During our passby of Comino’s eastern and nothern side, we were able to a view of the island the focused on cliffs. It was different from the southern and western sides, where Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon are located.
The sailby took us about ten minutes. It took another fifteen minutes to get to Gozo, where we were greeted with this sight:
At this point more than half of the passengers disembarked for a 2.5-hour bus tour of Victoria. Fifteen minutes later we left the port and 15 minutes after that, we were at the Crystal Lagoon.
Discovering the Crystal Lagoon
Crystal Lagoon is located on the western side of Comino Island, a small island between Malta and Gozo. It lies in a wide, sheltered bay surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. The water is crystal clear with a mostly sandy bottom at a depth of 5-6 meters (16.4-19.7 ft), creating beautiful turquoise and deep blue hues. This is what gives it the name, as though the colour of the water is light that is shining through a crystal.
Crystal Lagoon is an excellent place for swimming, snorkelling and diving – which is why it was on the itinerary! Our trip had organised for us to stay there for 45 minutes. With a slide attached to the boat from the upper level, it was a perfect opportunity to enjoy the water – if you like swimming.
As someone who is always cold, I did not get in the water or make use of the slide, but my friend turned out to be quite the water dweller!
And being a good friend, I naturally took videos:
We did not hve enough time (or really interest at the time) but there are some small sea caves to explore, including a 30-meter tunnel you can swim through. There are also opportunities for reef, cavern, and wreck dives along the bay’s perimeter. Finally if you walk 20 minutes from the Blue Lagoon to reach the Crystal Lagoon cliffs, you can dive from heights 1-27.5 metres (3-90 feet).
Bonus entertainment
We were supposed to be at the Crystal Lagoon for 45 minutes before heading to the Blue Lagoon. In the end we ended up staying for just over an hour due to some idiots…
When we arrived, there was already a private speedboat with 6 guys in their early 20s on it among the boats moored there. Within less than 10 minutes we had discovered that something was wrong with their boat – it was sinking!
Initially we thought it was because there was something wrong with the boat, but it seems that really it was their own stupidity. They had (most likely on a dare) caused water to start entering their boat as it came in over the sides. As a result the boat was slowly sinking. They tried to bale water out of the boat but it was coming in faster than they could get it out, so the boat was continuing to sink. Eventually they abandoned the boat with their belongings and went to another, nearby boat.
The other boat had a paddleboard that they threw to the guys in the water. Not to outdo their previous stupidity, they piled the belongings that they had saved on the board and then 4 of them tried to get on at the same time from the same side of the board. The result was the board flipping, dumping all of their stuff into the water again. To be completely honest it was a nice bit of schadenfreude!
You can read the resulting article in the Times of Malta here.
Santa Maria Caves
After our eventful time at the Crystal Lagoon, it was time to cruise and moor for 4 hours at the Blue Lagoon. My friend and I decided we also wanted to take a smaller boat to the Santa Maria Caves that we had briefly passed earlier, so this was the perfect opprotunity. Little did we know how small the boat was.
As we got off the boat, there was a tour company offering tours to the Santa Maria Caves. This was perfect as we were very interested. It was €15 per person, so we handed over €30 and went to the boat.
The boat turned out to be not much more than a dingy that had a jet motor attached to the back. I could not say exactly what kind of boat it was, but it definitely seemed inflatable and it went very fast, only allowing seating for 6 people plus a driver.
I have to admit that I did not feel very comfortable in the boat. I had expected something a bit larger that would go a bit slower. What we got instead was this:
After about ten minutes or so, we were back on the north side of the island where the caves are. The Santa Maria Caves are five sea caves that can only be accessed by small boats. Boat tours come and go all the time, so while it is possible to dive and snorkel here, you need to be wary of these small boats.
Here are some of the photos that I was able to capture:
And it would not be complete without a couple of videos:
After visiting the caves, we came back to the Blue Lagoon.
Comino’s Blue Lagoon
Comino’s Blue Lagoon is the main attraction that draws people to visit the island. It is a stunning natural attraction known for its crystal-clear turquoise waters and picturesque setting. It actually sits between two islands: Comino and Cominotto (often consider to be part of Comino but it is technically separate).
The lagoon is characterised by its shallow, sandy bottom and surrounding limestone cliffs, creating a natural pool with incredibly clear water. Visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, relaxing on the said cliffs, and various water activities like banana boat rides and kayaking. The lagoon is split into different areas so that swimmers do not have to worry about kayakers and neither have to worry about motorised boats, which stick to the periphery of the lagoon.
The Blue Lagoon is considered Malta’s top attraction and one of the most scenic areas in the world, often described as a “paradise on earth”.
As its popularity has increased, so have the facilities that are available at the Blue Lagoon. Food trucks and public toilets are the most visible of these. While most food trucks accept credit and debit cards (and the prices are reasonable considering the location and exclusive nature), it is still advisable to bring cash just in case.
For lunch my friend and I decided to share a pizza after the boat to the Santa Maria Caves. We then spent the rest of the time (approximately 2 hours) enjoying the water and the limestone cliffs. For the last half an hour we decided to have a drink in a pineapple, which was delicious!
I have to admit that it is one of the most beautiful scenes I have seen. Even with its popularity, there are not enough people to ruin either the view or the experience of looking out over the Blue Lagoon and wondering at the view.
Finally we left Comino and the Blue Lagoon as the sun was beginning to move closer to the horizon, arriving back in Sliema in Sliema with plenty of light but not much more in the way of daylight hours.
Our review of the trip
My review on GetYourGuide:
A friend and I went on this trip in June 2024 and had an excellent time. You depart from Sliema at 11. The first stop is Gozo, where those who booked the Victoria bus tour get out (we did not). The boat then leaves immediately to go to Comino. We started at the Crystal Lagoon, where we swam and saw some idiots sink their boat. The schadenfreude was especially amazing and an excellent bonus! After we went to the Blue Lagoon, where the boat stops for 3.5 hours. There is a lot to do there if you do not just want to lie down or swim – something for everyone! 10/10 excellent value for money. Will definitely do again when I am in Malta!
Organising the trip
Even before going to Malta, we knew that we wanted to go to Comino and see the Blue Lagoon. My friend had been to Malta before for a week to study English when she was in secondary school. Part of her trip had been a trip to Comino and Gozo. As it had been about 10 years prior, she wanted to repeat the experience!
I was certainly not against a trip to Comino. I had seen pictures and I wanted to see it with my own two eyes!
When we were looking for trips, many of them seemed to combine Gozo and Comino. Even for a full 7.5/8-hour trip lasting the whole day, it seemed too much to do for such a short time. We decided to just go to Comino and enjoy a more leisurely day on this island paradise.
With these criteria in mind, we began searching for a boat tour. GetYouGuide, which specialises in tours like this, showed us this tour operated by Water Taxi Limited that was a good balance of price and itinerary. It was not overly expensive and it had exactly what we were looking for. At €30 per person, it did not break the bank, it left from a location that was convenient for us and it had good reviews, so we decided to go with that one.
We are very happy that we did! We had an excellent time (as is hopefully apparent, dear reader) and I would happily repeat this trip again the next time I am in Malta.
The icing on the cake was that it was also easy to get to. From St. Julian’s there are several direct buses that go directly to the port in Sliema – most continue to and end in Valletta. The main bus routes that fit this description are the #13, 14 and 16 buses.
Many tours also go from Cirkewwa on the northern end of the island of Malta. While these tours and ferries reach Comino and Gozo much more quickly than from Sliema (many in about 20 minutes), there was no direct public transportation and it would take more than an hour travelling to get there. The timing of the bus and the tours also did not match up, so we would have to have left around 8:30 or so to be able to make it for an 11 a.m. start. This tour was much more convenient!
If you are going to Malta and want to book this tour, please use this link. This is an affiliate link that will help me to review more trips like this, giving you the best content possible.
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