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

Comino’s Blue Lagoon is the star here, but the boat ride gives the outing its real shape. From Bugibba, you cruise past Malta’s coast, stop for hours of swimming, then nose along Comino’s cliffs and caves before returning by sea. It is a simple way to pack the coast, Comino, and several photo stops into half a day.

I like the generous Blue Lagoon stop and the smaller boat, which can get closer to places such as Crystal Lagoon and St. Mary’s Caves. I also like the easygoing setup: shaded open-air space, a toilet, music, and drinks available onboard. The catch is that the Blue Lagoon can be very crowded, and the caves depend on weather and sea conditions.

Key points to know before booking

• About three hours at the Blue Lagoon: You have time to swim, snorkel, eat lunch, or walk around Comino.
• The smaller boat is The Mermaid: Look for the red, blue, and white boat at Bugibba Jetty.
• Caves are part of the route: Crystal Lagoon Caves and St. Mary’s Caves may be viewed or entered when conditions allow.
• A relaxed crew makes the day easy: The captain and deckhand handle the sightseeing while you enjoy the water and views.
• Bring cash and your own swim kit: Food and drinks cost extra, and snorkeling equipment is available to rent.
• Comino entry requires a government ticket: You must sign up through the Maltese Government Website, and that access ticket is not included.

What this Comino cruise is really offering

At $29 per person, this is one of the lower-cost ways to see Comino from the water. You are not paying for a luxury yacht, a gourmet meal, or an all-island tour. You are paying for a boat ride from Bugibba, a long swimming stop, a look at Malta’s sea caves, and an easy return to the same harbor.

That makes the tour a good fit if your main goal is time in the water. Several schedules give you roughly three to three and a half hours around the Blue Lagoon. That is more useful than a quick photo stop, especially if you want to swim, rent snorkeling gear, eat something, or walk a little around Comino.

The advertised duration is 5.5 hours. Most of that time is split between the cruise to Comino, the long stop at the lagoon, the cave sightseeing, and the cruise back. You get a real half-day on the sea without committing to a full island-hopping day that includes Gozo.

The experience has earned a 4.4 rating from 272 reviews, which fits the overall picture: strong value and friendly service, with the usual limits of a popular Blue Lagoon trip. The water and scenery are excellent. Crowds, paid extras, and weather-dependent cave access are part of the deal.

Finding The Mermaid at Bugibba Jetty

The meeting point is Bugibba Jetty, where you will see the boat docked in the harbor. The vessel is called The Mermaid, and it is the smaller red, blue, and white boat. That description matters because several boats may be operating around the harbor, so do not simply board the first boat you see.

Boarding begins 30 minutes before departure. Boarding closes 10 minutes before departure, and the boat cannot wait for late arrivals. I would treat that cutoff seriously. There are no refunds for arriving too late, and a boat tour has a fixed route and schedule to keep.

Bring a sun hat, sunscreen, swimwear, a towel, beachwear, and cash. You will want a towel even if you plan only a short swim, since the Blue Lagoon stop is long enough for repeated swims and time on deck.

The tour is conducted in English. It is described as a guided island-hopping trip, but the main appeal is the route, swimming, and scenery rather than a long museum-style talk. The captain points out sights and gives information about the coast as the boat moves.

The first hour: Malta’s coast from Bugibba to Comino

The opening cruise lasts about an hour. You leave Bugibba and travel across the Mediterranean toward Comino, with views along the Malta coastline and Mellieħa Bay.

This is a useful part of the trip because it lets you settle into the boat before the main stop. You can sit in the shaded open-air area, listen to music, buy a drink, and watch the shore change from harbor views to cliffs and open water.

The boat has a smaller feel than the large vessels used for some Comino routes. That can make the ride more comfortable, and the size helps when the captain takes the boat closer to the caves. It does not mean you will have a private trip. The Blue Lagoon remains a popular stop, and the boat can still feel active during busy periods.

Onboard toilets are available, which is a small but important advantage on a 5.5-hour outing. Food and drinks are not included, but the snack bar sells drinks and light meals. Bring cash so you are not caught short when you want something during the day.

Three hours at the Blue Lagoon

The main stop gives you about three hours at Comino’s famous Blue Lagoon. This is the part to plan around. The water is clear, turquoise, and calm, with shallow areas that work well for families and people who are not confident swimmers.

You can swim from the boat, snorkel, relax on deck, or go ashore if permitted through the arrangements for the island. The schedule gives you enough time to do more than one thing. You might swim early, eat lunch, then return to the water when the first excitement has worn off.

A key detail is that snorkeling equipment is available to rent, rather than included in the price. If you already own a mask and snorkel, bring them. If not, the clear water still makes a swim worthwhile, but renting adds to the cost.

The boat allows you to jump directly into the water, an appealing option if you want to avoid spending the entire stop on shore. Families and first-time swimmers should still pay attention to crew instructions and use the available safety equipment when needed.

The main drawback is crowding. The Blue Lagoon is one of Malta’s best-known swimming spots, and the water may feel far less peaceful than photographs suggest. The tour schedule can help. One departure reached Comino later in the day, with the lagoon feeling less crowded after 5 p.m. That timing is not guaranteed for every departure, so check the start time when booking.

The long stop also gives you freedom, but it means you are responsible for pacing yourself. Bring sunscreen and use shade when possible. A day on bright water can catch you out, especially if you spend hours swimming and then sit on deck for the return cruise.

Crystal Lagoon and St. Mary’s Caves

After the main swimming stop, the boat continues along Comino’s rocky coast. The cave section lasts about 15 minutes in the listed schedule, so think of it as a focused sightseeing pass rather than a long cave expedition.

Crystal Lagoon Caves and St. Mary’s Caves are among the most enjoyable parts for people who like natural scenery and photographs. The smaller boat can approach some openings more closely than a large vessel, giving you a better view of the rock walls and sea passages.

The route may include a short visit, a pass by, and time for photographs. The captain decides what is possible based on wind, waves, and the condition of the entrances. If the sea is rough, the boat may not enter every cave or may alter the route. This is normal for a coastal trip, not a service failure.

You should also keep your camera ready. The cave section moves quickly, and the boat may be turning or passing through narrow areas. A waterproof phone pouch is a sensible extra, although one is not provided in the tour details.

Elephant Rock, St. Paul’s Island, and the ride home

The boat also passes Elephant Rock and St. Paul’s Island. These are brief photo stops rather than long visits, so do not expect time to get ashore.

Elephant Rock is viewed from the water, where its shape makes the most sense. St. Paul’s Island provides another coastal landmark on the return route. These stops add variety after the Blue Lagoon and caves, but they are best understood as passing sights, not separate activities.

The final sightseeing cruise lasts about an hour and returns to Bugibba Jetty. By then, you will have had a full stretch of sun, salt water, and boat movement. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit where the ride feels most stable and avoid arriving without food or water. The tour information does not specify a special seating area for this, so ask the crew if you need advice.

The Mermaid’s size, shade, and atmosphere

The boat’s size is one of the strongest practical advantages. A smaller vessel can approach cave openings and may feel less crowded than the biggest boats on the route. It also tends to create a more social, informal mood rather than a big excursion-ship atmosphere.

There is an open-air shaded area, which is especially useful under Malta’s strong sun. You can move between shade and sun instead of being stuck in one spot. Music is played onboard, and the crew is described as friendly, punctual, and welcoming.

Do not expect a silent nature cruise. Music and a friendly atmosphere suit a fun swimming day, but people seeking a quiet, private ride may prefer a smaller charter. The tour is also in English only, so the sightseeing commentary may be less useful if you do not understand English.

The captain and deckhand are not named in the available details, but the crew’s role is clear: they handle the boat, show you the main sights, explain parts of the coast, and adjust the cave portion when conditions require it. That practical flexibility matters more than a formal speech when you are moving through narrow sea spaces.

What the $29 price includes, and what it does not

The price covers the boat cruise from Bugibba, the English-guided route around Comino, the Blue Lagoon stop, and the cave and coastal sightseeing. At $29, the strongest value is the amount of swimming time.

You pay extra for food, drinks, and snorkeling equipment. You should also know that the government entry ticket for access to Comino is not included. The instructions require you to sign up through the Maltese Government Website to get that ticket, so handle that before the trip rather than assuming the boat fare covers every island fee.

The price is fair if you want a straightforward sea outing with no complicated transport connections. It is less compelling if you want meals, a private boat, a long guided walk, or a visit to Gozo. This trip focuses on Comino and the coast around it.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Weather can still change the plan close to departure because the captain may cancel or alter the trip for safety.

Who will enjoy this boat trip most

I would choose this tour for you if you want:

• A long swim at the Blue Lagoon rather than a quick stop
• A reasonably priced boat day from the St. Paul’s Bay and Bugibba area
• A smaller boat that can get closer to coastal caves
• Time for swimming, sunbathing, photos, and a little exploring
• A casual experience with music, shade, a toilet, and drinks for sale

It is also a good match for families, couples, and first-time swimmers because the lagoon is calm and shallow in places. You still need to supervise children closely around the boat and water, and you should follow the crew’s safety instructions.

I would hesitate if you dislike crowds, want guaranteed cave access, or expect a quiet luxury cruise. I would also look elsewhere if your priority is Gozo. The schedule gives you Comino and nearby sights, not a full Gozo tour.

Simple ways to make the day better

Arrive early enough to identify The Mermaid and board without stress. Bring your own snorkeling equipment if you have it, along with cash for the snack bar and any rental costs.

Use the first part of the Blue Lagoon stop to swim while you have energy. Save some time for a second swim, a meal, or a walk around Comino rather than trying to do everything at once.

Ask the crew what cave access is possible that day. Sea conditions control this part of the route, and the captain may know which openings are safe to enter.

Finally, bring a sun hat and cover-up, not just swimwear. The boat has shade, but you may spend many hours exposed to reflected sunlight from the water.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a good-value Comino swimming trip with a long Blue Lagoon stop, a smaller boat, and cave sightseeing included. The combination is hard to fault at $29, provided you understand that food, drinks, snorkeling rental, and the Comino government ticket cost extra.

Skip it if you need guaranteed peaceful water, a private setting, or a full visit to Gozo. For most people who want an easy half-day at sea from Bugibba, The Mermaid offers the right mix of swimming, scenery, and simple onboard comfort.

FAQ

Where does the Comino boat tour depart?

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

How long does the boat trip last?

The tour lasts 5.5 hours, including the cruise to Comino, the Blue Lagoon stop, cave sightseeing, coastal photo stops, and the return to Bugibba.

How much time do I get at the Blue Lagoon?

The scheduled Blue Lagoon visit lasts about three hours. You can use this time for swimming, snorkeling, relaxing, eating, or walking around Comino.

Is snorkeling included?

Snorkeling itself is part of the activities available at the Blue Lagoon, but equipment rental is not included in the price.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Drinks and light meals are available for purchase at the onboard snack bar.

Is there a toilet on the boat?

Yes. Onboard toilet facilities are available.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guided tour is conducted in English only.

Can the boat enter the sea caves?

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

Do I need a ticket to access Comino?

Yes. You must sign up through the Maltese Government Website to get an entry ticket for access to the island. That government ticket is not included in the boat tour price.

What happens if the weather changes?

The captain may cancel or alter the trip according to weather conditions. Cave visits are also adjusted when the sea is unsuitable.