A smaller boat means more time where you want it most. This private charter runs from Sliema and works in the island highlights people actually remember: Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon, and the cave time you can’t reach on big boats. You also pass key Comino landmarks along the way and get a real chance to stop, swim, and snorkel in calm, clear water.

Two things I really like: first, you get multiple water stops with built-in breaks rather than one rushed photo pass. Second, you can choose a Comino-only route or add Gozo for extra coastline time and more variety. Even better, the captain (with guides like Bufon cited in feedback) tends to share info that makes the scenery feel less random and more connected.

One possible drawback: this type of day is weather-driven. If conditions are rough, the operator may switch dates or refund, so plan with a little slack if you can.

Key takeaways before you book

• Private group up to 7: you’re not sharing the day with strangers trying to squeeze onto the same ladder.
• Santa Maria Caves access: smaller passages mean a close-up look rather than just looking from outside.
• Two lagoon stops with real swim time: think snorkel + float + repeat, not just a 10-minute stop.
• Comino vs Gozo options: trade time between lagoons and add coastline time in Gozo.
• English-speaking experience: communication is straightforward from start to finish.

Private boat basics: Sliema launch, 7 hours, and what $786.40 really buys

This is a true private charter for up to 7 people, priced at $786.40 per group for about 7 hours on the water. That sounds like a lot until you do the math the way you should: if you’ve got a small group (friends, family, or couples traveling together), the cost per person often lands in a sane range compared with paying for separate tickets and separate boats.

What you’re buying here isn’t just transport. You’re buying control over pace. The plan builds in time for swimming and snorkeling at the lagoons, plus a cave segment where the boat goes where bigger vessels can’t. For a day like Comino, that matters, because the difference between a good swim stop and an unforgettable one is usually timing, crowd levels, and how long you can actually stay.

The charter also runs in English, and you’ll use a mobile ticket. The meeting point is Ferries 2Malta, and the experience ends back at the same spot on the Sliema side—so you’re not dealing with a complicated end-of-day transfer.

Sliema Promenade and the Smugglers Cave area: a scenic warm-up with smart stops

The day starts with a departure from the Strand area in Sliema, then the route follows the Maltese coastline with views as you settle in. This first segment is short and visual, but it’s a nice way to get oriented before you hit the busier island zones.

Next, you pass the Marks & Dukes Window area and Smugglers Cave, with a stop at Smugglers Cave. Even if you’re not spending hours here, it’s a useful “gateway” moment—like getting a quick sense of the rock formations and coastal character before you move into the main cave and lagoon stops.

Practical note: this is the kind of day where you’ll feel the difference between watching from a distance and being close to the water. Those early stops set expectations so you don’t spend the rest of the trip wishing you’d slowed down sooner.

Santa Maria Caves: the highlight that changes the whole trip

This charter includes entry into the Santa Maria Caves area, where larger boats can’t go. That one detail is the reason this experience feels special. The caves are narrow enough that access is limited, and that’s what turns a “tour of the sea” into something more like a close-up passage through the rock.

What you should expect is a guided boat navigation through tight cave corridors, with clear turquoise water and rock formations you can see up close. You’re also in the position to notice small things—shapes in the limestone, the way light bounces inside the passages, and pockets of marine life you might miss from an outside viewpoint.

If you care about photos, this is where your camera (or phone) earns its keep. The caves are a contrast moment: still water, dark rock edges, and bright highlights where the light breaks through. That mix is hard to fake with a normal coastline stop.

And because it’s private, you’re not stuck in a slow-moving lineup. You can often enjoy the cave segment at a pace that fits your group, whether that means lingering for one more angle or keeping things moving so you’re fresh for the swims.

Blue Lagoon: choosing your swim focus between Comino-only and Gozo add-on

Blue Lagoon is the main event for most people, and this charter gives you time that’s long enough to actually get wet and comfortable. You anchor once you arrive, then you can swim, snorkel, and explore, plus you’ll have room to sunbathe and relax.

Timing depends on your option:

• Comino option: about 1.5 hours
• Gozo & Comino option: about 1 hour

That difference isn’t just a schedule tweak. If you want the best shot at a proper snorkel session (without rushing back), the longer stop helps. A shorter stop still works if your goal is quick swimming and photos, but you’ll feel the clock more.

Also, if you’re traveling with mixed interests—some people want to snorkel while others mostly want to float—this stop structure tends to make everyone happy. Everyone can do the activity they want without the group being locked together.

Crystal Lagoon: calmer water time and another chance at snorkeling

After Blue Lagoon, the charter moves to Crystal Lagoon, another standout with crystal-clear turquoise water. This stop is also a good snorkeling option because the water is shallow in places and the area is ringed by rocky cliffs and vegetation.

Here again, timing shifts based on your route:

• Comino option: about 1.5 hours
• Gozo & Comino option: about 1 hour

The tradeoff is pretty straightforward: if you choose the Comino-only plan, you get longer time in both lagoons. If you choose Gozo, you’re choosing variety over extra lagoon time. Both are legit.

One subtle advantage of doing Crystal Lagoon after Blue Lagoon is that it can feel like a palate reset. Blue Lagoon is often the most famous name in the bunch, and Crystal can feel a little quieter in your day rhythm. That makes it a good stop for slowing down, doing a more relaxed snorkel, or simply enjoying the water without sprinting.

And yes, the water here is described as supporting marine life like colorful fish and sea urchins. You may not see everything every time, but the conditions are built for that kind of gentle “look around and float” snorkeling.

Gozo by boat: Ramla Bay, San Blas Bay, or Mgarr ix-Xini options

If you pick the Gozo & Comino charter option, you trade time at the lagoons for an actual chunk of Gozo coastline. After Comino, the captain takes you to Ramla Bay & San Blas Bay in Gozo, or to Mgarr ix-Xini in Gozo.

Then you get about 2 hours to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and explore the coastline. This part of the day is where you gain variety. Comino is all about the water-and-caves rhythm. Gozo adds a bigger sense of shoreline, with different beach and cliff scenery.

This is also where the private format helps. A boat day can be annoying if you’re always waiting on other groups. Here, you’re working on your own timeline, and you can spend your Gozo time the way you want—longer swim session, shorter dip with more sightseeing, or pure relaxation.

If your group has at least a couple people who love beaches and a couple people who love being on boats, Gozo is the compromise that keeps everyone engaged.

On-board experience: the captain’s role and why information improves the day

A boat charter is only as good as the person driving it, plus how the day is explained. In feedback about this experience, Bufon comes up as a standout. People liked his ability to provide useful info and keep things relaxing while still making the day interesting.

That kind of captain matters because it changes what you notice. Instead of just seeing caves and water, you learn what you’re looking at and why it’s shaped the way it is. It also makes decisions easier in the moment—like where to focus your attention while anchoring, or what to look for as you move through cave passages.

You’ll also notice the benefit of a smaller boat size. Feedback points to peaceful and quiet areas, which is exactly what you want in Malta’s most photogenic water spots. Even if the lagoons are popular, access and positioning can still make your experience feel calm.

Price and value: when private makes more sense than group tours

Let’s talk value without pretending it’s cheap. The price is $786.40 per group up to 7, and you’re on the water for roughly 7 hours. That’s not the kind of cost you justify if you’re traveling solo or as a duo with a tight budget.

But if you’re a group of 3, 4, 5, or 6, the math starts to work. You’re paying for a full charter day, not for individual seats stacked on top of each other. You also get the Santa Maria Caves access and multiple stops with swimming and snorkeling time built into the schedule.

Another value point: the major stops listed for this experience are marked with free admission tickets. That means you’re not hit with extra entrance fees at every anchor. (There can still be small personal costs while you’re in Malta, but the core activity doesn’t seem to pull surprise entry charges into the middle of the trip.)

If you’re deciding between Comino-only and Gozo add-on, think about what you’ll remember most. Two longer lagoon sessions tend to win for pure water time. Adding Gozo wins if your group wants more variety and a wider feel for Malta’s islands.

Booking timing and weather: how to avoid a day that slips away

This charter is typically booked around 63 days in advance on average, which tells you two things: people plan ahead for the best dates, and popular days fill up. If you know you want a specific week, it’s smart to lock in early rather than hoping for last-minute availability.

This experience also requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. That’s the right kind of policy for a sea trip, but still—if your Malta visit is short, build some flexibility into your schedule.

As for the day itself, confirmation happens at booking, and the experience is offered in English. You’re close to public transportation, so you’re not stuck trying to solve a puzzle with remote pickup points.

Should you book this Comino and Gozo private charter?

Book it if you want a calmer, more personal Malta water day. You’ll likely enjoy this most if your group cares about swimming and snorkeling, not just sightseeing from afar, and if you want that Santa Maria Caves access that’s tied to smaller-boat capability.

I’d especially lean toward booking if you’re traveling with people who have different “on vacation” styles—some want to snorkel, some want to relax on anchored time, and a few will obsess over photos. The schedule supports all of that without you needing to compromise constantly.

Skip (or adjust expectations) if you hate weather-dependent plans or you only have one single day that you absolutely can’t risk. Sea days are great when conditions cooperate, but Malta will remind you that water has its own rules.

If you’re organizing a trip where the water stops will be the main attraction, this is a strong choice because it mixes caves + lagoons + optional Gozo in a single smooth run from Sliema.

FAQ

How long is the private boat charter?

The trip is about 7 hours (approx.).

How many people can join the private group?

The charter is private, for up to 7 people per group.

Where does the tour start and where does it end?

The meeting point is Ferries 2Malta in Sliema, and the activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What language is the experience offered in?

The experience is offered in English.

What’s included at Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon?

At both lagoons, you can swim, snorkel, and sunbathe while the boat anchors for you to explore the area.

What changes between the Comino option and the Gozo & Comino option?

With the Comino option you spend about 1.5 hours at Blue Lagoon and about 1.5 hours at Crystal Lagoon. With the Gozo & Comino option, you spend about 1 hour at Blue Lagoon, about 1 hour at Crystal Lagoon, and add around 2 hours in Gozo (Ramla Bay & San Blas Bay, or Mgarr ix-Xini).

What if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for free up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.