Small group vs private boat trip to Comino: which to pick

There are four main ways to get onto the water around Comino: the ferry, a big shared boat, a small-group tour and a private charter. They are all fine. They just suit different people.

We run a small-group tour, so we are not neutral. But we would rather you booked the right thing than the wrong thing with us. Here is an honest comparison.

The four options at a glance

	Comino ferry	Big shared boat	Small-group tour	Private charter
What it is	Transfer to the Blue Lagoon and back	Large boat, set route, many passengers	Small boat, set route, limited passengers	A boat and skipper for your group only
Crowds on board	Busy at peak times	Many people	Fewer people	Just your group
Stops	Blue Lagoon only	Several, usually including the Blue Lagoon	Several, including swim stops and caves	Whatever you agree
Time at each stop	As long as you like, within the timetable	Often short, given the numbers	Long enough to swim properly	Flexible
Caves and reefs	No	Sometimes from a distance	Closer, often inside if the sea allows	Yes, if the boat can reach them
Flexibility	Choose your return boat	Fixed	Fixed route, adjusted for weather	High
Cost	Lowest	Low to moderate, per person	Moderate, per person	Highest in total
Blue Lagoon shore pass	Needed to land	Needed to go ashore	Needed to go ashore; not to swim from the boat	Needed to go ashore

Option 1: the Comino ferry

Seasonal ferries run to the Blue Lagoon from the Ċirkewwa and Marfa area on Malta and from Mġarr on Gozo. They drop you at the jetty and bring you back later.

Good for: people who want a long day ashore at the Blue Lagoon, and anyone on a tight budget.

Trade-offs: you see the Blue Lagoon and not much else. Comino’s caves and the Crystal Lagoon are not reachable on foot in any practical way, so you miss them. You need the free access pass because you are landing. Return boats can be busy late in the afternoon.

Option 2: big shared boats

These are the large boats, often with a bar and a sun deck, that leave from Sliema, Buġibba and other resort towns. They usually include the Blue Lagoon and a cruise past the caves.

Good for: people who want a lively day out, groups who like a party atmosphere, and anyone staying near a departure point who does not want to travel.

Trade-offs: getting a lot of people in and out of the water takes time, so stops can feel short or crowded. Large boats cannot always get close to the cave mouths or the reef. Longer departures from the south of Malta also mean more of the trip is spent getting there. That is not a flaw, just the cost of leaving from further away.

Option 3: small-group tours

A smaller boat with fewer passengers, a skipper who knows the water, and a set route that usually covers several swim stops and the caves. This is what we run from Ċirkewwa.

On our small-group Comino, Gozo and Blue Lagoon tour, that means three swim stops at the Crystal Lagoon, the Blue Lagoon and Santa Marija Bay, and pass-bys at Cominotto Reef, Ħondoq Bay, Ħalfa Rock, the Santa Maria Caves and Elephant Head Rock. It lasts three and a half hours, from €24 per person, with snorkels, swim noodles, a paddleboard and a welcome drink included.

Good for: swimmers, couples, friends and families who want to see more of Comino without the crowd, and people who want to hear a guide rather than a sound system.

Trade-offs: the route is set, and you share the boat with other people. There is less space than on a private charter and less of a party than on a big boat. You get a few hours on the water, not a full day ashore. Like any boat trip, it is not ideal for anyone prone to seasickness.

One practical point: on a small boat that anchors in the lagoon, you can swim at the Blue Lagoon without the shore access pass. You only need one to go ashore. See our Blue Lagoon pass guide.

Option 4: private charter

You hire the boat and skipper for your own group, for a few hours or a full day, and choose where to go within what the weather allows.

Good for: families or friends who want privacy, special occasions, larger groups where the cost can be shared, and anyone with a specific plan such as diving, fishing or a sunset.

Trade-offs: cost. You pay for the whole boat, so for a couple or a small family it is much more expensive than a shared tour. Quality and comfort vary between boats and skippers, so it is worth checking exactly what is included.

Private vs shared boat trip in Malta: the real differences

Crowds

This is the biggest difference. Private is quietest, then small-group, then the ferry and big boats at peak times. Wherever you go, the Blue Lagoon itself will be busy in summer. What changes is how many people you share your own boat and swim space with.

Time at each stop

A ferry gives you the most time at one place. A private charter lets you decide. A small-group tour gives set times that are long enough to swim properly: about 30 minutes at the Crystal Lagoon, 45 at the Blue Lagoon and 30 at Santa Marija Bay on ours. Big boats vary.

Flexibility

Private charters are the most flexible. Shared tours of any size follow a set route, although a good skipper will change the order to suit the wind and sea. The ferry is flexible only in which return boat you catch.

Cost

The ferry is the cheapest way to reach Comino. Shared tours sit in the middle and are priced per person. Private charters cost the most, but the price per person falls as the group gets bigger.

Departure point

Where you leave from affects how much of your trip is spent travelling. Departures from Ċirkewwa and Mellieħa have the shortest crossing. We explain this in Comino boat trip from Mellieħa.

Which should you choose?

• You want a day on the beach at the Blue Lagoon: take the ferry.
• You want a lively day and are staying in Sliema or Buġibba: a big shared boat from your resort is convenient.
• You want to swim at several places, see the caves and avoid the crowd, at a per-person price: a small-group tour.
• You want the boat to yourselves, or you are a larger group: a private charter.

If the small-group option sounds right, our tour leaves from Ċirkewwa. Read how to find the meeting point or check dates and book. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before.