Malta: Comino Blue Lagoon Boat Tour, Sea Caves & Swim Stops

Malta’s best swimming stop comes by boat. This 5.5-hour cruise from Bugibba takes you to Comino’s Blue Lagoon, then along the island’s rugged coast to sea caves and photo stops. I especially like the smaller traditional boat, which can get closer to some caves, and the generous time set aside for swimming and snorkeling. The main catch is simple: Blue Lagoon can be very busy, especially in summer, and the sea caves depend on weather.

The $29 price is strong value if you want Malta’s coast, Comino, swimming, and cave views in one outing. You should still bring cash for food and drinks, arrive early, and expect an English-only tour. This is a boat day rather than a quiet beach visit, but the crew, shaded open-air area, clean toilet, and relaxed music help make the long outing comfortable.

Key points before you book

• Three hours at Blue Lagoon: You get enough time for swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and a walk around Comino.
• Small boat advantage: The Mermaid is a red, blue, and white boat that is smaller than many cruise boats, allowing closer views of certain caves.
• Caves are weather dependent: Crystal Lagoon Caves and St. Mary’s Caves may be viewed from the boat or entered when sea conditions allow.
• Comfort on board: The boat has toilets, a snack bar, music, and an open-air shaded area.
• Bugibba departure: The trip starts and finishes at Bugibba Jetty, with boarding beginning 30 minutes before departure.
• Bring your own beach kit: Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, beachwear, and cash for purchases.

Why this Comino cruise is good value at $29

At $29 per person, this is one of the easier ways to combine several Malta sights without arranging separate transport. You get the outward and return coastal cruise, a long stop at Comino, cave viewing, and passing views of Santa Maria, Elephant Rock, and St. Paul’s Island.

I see the value mainly in the timing. Many boat trips give you just enough time to step off, take a few pictures, and leave. Here, the Blue Lagoon stop lasts about three hours. That gives you room to swim, snorkel, eat lunch, sit in the sun, or walk around part of Comino instead of treating the island as a quick photo stop.

The price does not include food, drinks, rented snorkeling equipment, or the government entry ticket needed to access Comino. Those extra costs are worth noting before you book. Still, even with a drink or light meal added, the cruise offers a useful mix of sightseeing and free time for the money.

The low price also means you should keep expectations sensible. This is not a private charter or a luxury yacht outing. It is a friendly shared boat trip with basic facilities, a snack bar, and a relaxed atmosphere. For a half-day at sea, that is a fair trade.

Meeting the Mermaid at Bugibba Jetty

The meeting point is Bugibba Jetty, where you should look for the Mermaid. It is the smaller red, blue, and white boat at the harbor. Boarding starts 30 minutes before departure, and boarding closes 10 minutes before the scheduled time.

That final cutoff matters. The boat cannot wait for late passengers, and no refund is offered if you miss departure. I would arrive with plenty of time to find the correct dock, especially if you are unfamiliar with Bugibba’s waterfront.

The boat itself receives much of the praise attached to this outing. Its smaller size helps it approach certain caves more closely than larger vessels can. It also has a shaded open-air section, a welcome feature under Malta’s strong sun. You can choose sun or shade instead of spending five hours exposed on deck.

There is a toilet on board, and the snack bar sells drinks and light meals. Food and drinks are not included, so carry cash. The atmosphere includes music, which adds to the holiday mood, though anyone seeking a silent nature cruise may find it less restful.

The first hour along Malta’s northern coast

The outward cruise takes about an hour and follows the coast toward Comino through the clear Mediterranean. You pass along Mellieħa Bay and get broad views of Malta from the water rather than from a road or crowded lookout.

This opening section is useful because it lets you settle into the boat before the main stop. You can find a place in the shade, take pictures, and watch the coastline change from developed waterfront to cliffs and open sea.

The crew provides the island-hopping tour in English. The captain also points out sights and gives background on the area, according to the tour details and passenger feedback. The quality of the day depends partly on the crew’s manner, and the captain and deckhand are repeatedly praised for being friendly, punctual, helpful, and welcoming.

Do not expect a formal lecture with a long sequence of dates and names. Think of the commentary as practical sightseeing guidance while you move between bays and islands.

Three hours at Comino’s Blue Lagoon

The main event is the Blue Lagoon, Comino’s famous swimming area. The water is turquoise and clear, and the calm, shallow conditions make this stop suitable for families, couples, confident swimmers, and people who simply want to sit in the sea.

You can swim from the boat, snorkel, or relax on deck. The boat remains the useful base because you have access to the toilet, shade, music, and snack bar while you spend time in the water.

Three hours is a generous amount of time here. You can swim early, take a break, then return to the water later. You may also have time to walk around Comino and eat lunch. One passenger specifically found the time sufficient for both a walk around the island and a swim, which is a good guide to how flexible this stop can feel.

The drawback is crowding. Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s most popular natural attractions, so the water and shore can be busy. The lagoon may look wonderfully open in photographs, but you should not expect a private cove. For a quieter feel, some departures may work better than others. One afternoon trip was praised for reaching Comino after 17:00, when the area felt less crowded.

That timing is not guaranteed, so check the available departure when booking. The season also matters. Summer brings stronger sun and more people, while spring and autumn can offer a gentler atmosphere, though the sea may be less predictable.

Snorkeling equipment is available to rent, but it is not included. If you already own a mask, bringing it may save money and avoid waiting. You should also pack a towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, a hat, and beachwear. The boat offers shade, but you will still spend much of the day outside.

Crystal Lagoon and St. Mary’s Caves

After Blue Lagoon, the boat follows Comino’s coastline for about 15 minutes before reaching the cave area. The route may include the Crystal Lagoon Caves and St. Mary’s Caves, two of the most memorable parts of the trip for anyone who likes dramatic rock formations and sea views.

The smaller Mermaid is particularly useful here. A large vessel may need to stay outside a cave entrance, while a smaller boat can approach more closely. You may view the caves from the water, pass their entrances, or enter them if conditions allow.

The word if matters. The captain decides what is safe based on weather and sea conditions. You should not book this trip with the assumption that every cave will be entered. Rough water can change the route, shorten a stop, or remove cave access altogether.

St. Mary’s Caves provide photo opportunities, but you will be taking those pictures from a moving or gently bobbing boat. Keep your phone secure, and do not let the chase for a perfect image distract you from the surroundings. The rock walls, dark openings, and bright water are best appreciated as part of the coastal cruise rather than as a long land visit.

The cave portion is fairly short, around 15 minutes in the stated schedule. That means the tour is mainly a Blue Lagoon swimming trip with cave sightseeing added, not a dedicated cave expedition.

Elephant Rock and St. Paul’s Island

The cruise also passes Elephant Rock and St. Paul’s Island. These are photo stops rather than long visits. You will see them from the boat, take pictures, and continue along the route.

Elephant Rock is a natural coastal landmark that makes sense from the water, where its shape and position against the sea are easiest to appreciate. St. Paul’s Island adds another quick point of interest on the return route.

These stops help break up the cruise, but they are not reasons to book the trip by themselves. If your priority is time on land, you may find them brief. If you like a broad tour that lets you see several coastal sights without changing boats, they are worthwhile additions.

The return cruise takes roughly an hour, bringing you back to Bugibba Jetty. By then, you will have had a substantial swim and plenty of sun, so the shaded seating and onboard toilet become even more useful.

Comfort, crew, and the smaller-boat feel

The crew is one of the strongest parts of the outing. The captain and deckhand are described as friendly, welcoming, punctual, and helpful. That matters on a boat trip because clear instructions and a calm manner make swimming stops feel easier, especially for families.

The boat is smaller than many competing vessels, but it is not cramped according to the feedback supplied. Passengers particularly liked having more space and fewer people than on some other boats. The open-air shaded section is another practical advantage. Malta’s sun is not something to treat casually, and shade can make the difference between enjoying the return cruise and simply enduring it.

Music plays on board, helping create a relaxed holiday setting. The clean toilet is another small but important comfort during a 5.5-hour outing. You can buy drinks and light meals, though one note indicates that snack choices may be limited. Bring a little food of your own if you need something specific, but remember that food and drinks are not included.

This is an English-only tour. If you are comfortable following instructions and commentary in English, that should be straightforward. If you need another language, this is not the right choice.

What can change on the day

The captain can alter or cancel the trip because of weather. The cave route is also dependent on sea conditions. This is normal for a coastal boat tour, but it affects what you should expect.

A calm day may allow close approaches and cave entry. Rougher water could mean viewing caves only from outside, changing the order of stops, or spending more time in safer waters. The captain’s decision is about safety, even if it means losing one of the advertised sights.

Comino also requires a government entry ticket. You must sign up on the Maltese Government Website to get that ticket. The tour price does not cover it, so handle that requirement before the day of departure rather than leaving it until you reach the jetty.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful if your Malta plans are still shifting, but they do not protect you from arriving late.

Who should book this boat tour?

I would recommend this cruise to you if you want a straightforward day at sea with a strong focus on swimming. It suits couples, families, first-time visitors to Malta, and anyone staying around St. Paul’s Bay or Bugibba who wants to reach Comino without organizing several connections.

It is also a good match if you prefer a smaller boat and an easygoing crew. The shaded area, toilet, snack bar, and music give the trip more comfort than a bare transport boat.

You may want another option if you dislike crowds, cannot swim, or want a silent, highly structured sightseeing cruise. Blue Lagoon can be busy, and the most active part of the day is spent around the water. You should also think twice if cave entry is your main goal, since weather may prevent it and the cave section is short.

For families, the shallow lagoon and long stop are useful. Parents can alternate between swimming, sitting in the shade, and keeping an eye on children. Bring sun protection and do not assume the lagoon will provide a quiet beach setting.

Final verdict: book it for the water time

I would book this tour if you want a well-priced introduction to Comino and Malta’s northern coast. The strongest reasons are the $29 price, the three-hour Blue Lagoon stop, the smaller boat, and the crew’s friendly approach.

Book it for swimming, snorkeling, coastal views, and a few memorable cave passages. Do not book it expecting an empty lagoon, a full Gozo visit, or a guaranteed cave entry. Arrive early at Bugibba, bring cash and sun protection, complete the Comino entry requirement, and treat the exact cave route as weather dependent. With those expectations, this is an enjoyable and practical choice.

FAQ

How long does the Malta Comino boat tour last?

The tour lasts 5.5 hours, including the outward cruise, time at Blue Lagoon, cave sightseeing, coastal photo stops, and the return journey to Bugibba Jetty.

Where does the boat tour start?

The tour starts and finishes at Bugibba Jetty. Look for the Mermaid, a smaller red, blue, and white boat docked in the harbor.

How much time do I get at Blue Lagoon?

The scheduled stop at Blue Lagoon is about three hours. You can use this time for swimming, snorkeling, relaxing, eating lunch, or walking around Comino.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Snorkeling equipment is not included, but equipment is available to rent at the Blue Lagoon stop.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Drinks and light meals are available to buy at the onboard snack bar, and you should bring cash for purchases.

Will the boat enter the sea caves?

The boat may view or enter caves such as the Crystal Lagoon Caves and St. Mary’s Caves, but cave access depends on weather and sea conditions.

What language is used during the tour?

The guided boat tour is conducted in English only.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The captain may cancel or alter the trip according to weather conditions. The cave route and access are also dependent on the sea state.