Hi, I’m Kim, born and raised in Malta, and if you’ve read any of my posts before, you’ll already know this about me: I love sharing my country, but I don’t sugarcoat things. If I don’t genuinely like something, you simply won’t see it here.
So when I say this Comino boat experience was one of my favourite things I’ve done in a long time… I really mean it.
And that’s coming from someone who has been visiting Comino for years.
Let’s Talk About Comino (Honestly)
Comino has always been popular, but in the past few years, with the rise of social media, it’s exploded. And yes, the Blue Lagoon is beautiful. The water is unreal. Without a doubt, it’s some of the clearest, bluest sea you’ll swim in Malta.
But here’s the reality.
From May through October, the Blue Lagoon is packed. Not “a bit busy”, I mean packed like sardines. The sandy beach? It’s tiny. Spending an entire day there in peak summer, with people literally on top of each other, just isn’t comfortable.
Unless you go very early or after 5PM (and even then, the public ferry stops running around that time), it can feel overwhelming.
And this is exactly why so many people leave thinking:
“Comino is overrated.”
But Here’s the Thing… It’s Not!
I genuinely hate hearing that, because Comino is not overrated.
It’s just misunderstood.
If you think Comino = Blue Lagoon, then you’ve only seen a tiny fraction of what makes it special. The real magic of Comino is in its coastline; the towering limestone cliffs, the hidden caves, the insane shades of blue water that shift depending on the light.
It’s the kind of place you need to see from the sea.
I mean… just look at this. This is what I’m talking about.
Why Most Boat Tours Don’t Do It Justice
A lot of tours advertise “Blue Lagoon + caves,” and yes, technically they do pass by (some of) them.
But let’s be honest.
The big boat tours don’t actually go into the caves.
The public ferry cuts through a few caves, but it just feels rushed. You’re in, you’re out, and you barely process what you’re seeing.
If you’ve done this before, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Now, to be clear; not all shared boat tours are the same.
I’ve actually done quite a few over the years, and there’s one specific shared tour that I would recommend. In fact, it’s the only one I recommend specifically during the peak summer months. And the reason is simple; timing.
Instead of arriving at the Blue Lagoon in the middle of the day when it’s at its busiest, this is an afternoon boat tour, which means you’re there later in the day, when things start to calm down a bit.
👉 If you’re going the shared route, this is the one I’d choose;full review here.
The Boat Tour That Changed Everything
This is where a private boat tour completely changed the experience for me.
We decided to do a shorter trip as more of a sightseeing cruise, focusing on exploring the caves.
And honestly, even as locals, we saw places we didn’t even know existed!
Not just passing by; actually going into the caves.
And a big part of that was our skipper. He’s a local who knows Comino like the back of his hand, and you could really feel it throughout the trip. He wasn’t just driving the boat; he was genuinely excited to show us the best spots, pointing things out along the way and taking us into places we would have never found ourselves.
Proper caves. The kind where the light hits the water and everything turns that deep, glowing blue. The kind that make you stop and just take it all in.
It made me feel genuinely proud to call Malta home. For such a small island, what we have here easily rivals places like Capri and I don’t say that lightly.
Look closely… do you see the elephant shape? (Below)
The Boat Itself (Because This Matters)
I’m a bit of a sucker for aesthetics, and this boat? It’s beautiful.
Sleek, clean, and just the perfect size; not too big, not too small. It comfortably fits up to 12 people, which makes a huge difference. Because of its size, it can actually navigate into caves and tighter spots that larger boats simply can’t access.
Let’s Talk Price (Because You’ll Be Surprised)
This was probably the biggest surprise.
Prices start from €199 for a 2-hour trip, including skipper and fuel—no hidden costs.
And when you split that between a group? It becomes very reasonable. In fact, it often works out not that far off from what you’d pay for a shared tour.
Except here:
- You have the entire boat to yourselves
- You go at your own pace
- Your skipper actually knows the area inside out
- You can choose exactly what you want to do
Want to focus on caves? Do it.
Want to swim in quieter, more secluded spots? You can.
Still want to stop at the Blue Lagoon? Of course.
It’s your day.
A look at some hidden swim stops and cliff jumping spots
One thing that makes this even better value and something a lot of people overlook is where the boat actually departs from.
This tour leaves from Ċirkewwa, in the north of Malta, which means you’re only about 10 minutes away from Comino by boat.
Compare that to departures from places like Sliema or St. Paul’s Bay, where you can spend 45 minutes to over an hour just getting there… and it makes a huge difference.
Less time travelling = more time actually exploring the caves, swimming, and enjoying the experience.
And honestly, that alone makes it feel like much better value for money.
👉 Check availability, prices and tour options here
Who This Is Perfect For
Honestly; almost everyone.
- Groups of friends
- Families
- Couples
- Even something special like a proposal (imagine sunset out at sea… unreal!)
A Few Practical Tips
Just a few things to know before you go:
- Bring your own drinks (there’s a cooler with ice onboard)
- Snorkels, masks, and noodles are provided
- Decide in advance if you want more swimming or more sightseeing
- Don’t feel like you need to spend a full day in Comino unless you plan to swim—it’s easy to fit into your schedule, and even 2 hours is enough to see a lot. Around 4 hours is ideal if you want time to swim in a few different spots.
- If you’re going in summer, earlier or later in the day is always nicer
If You Take One Thing From This…
Seeing Comino from the sea; properly, away from the crowds, inside the caves, along those cliffs; it’s completely different from just spending a few hours at the Blue Lagoon.
So before you say Comino is too crowded or not worth it…
Make sure you’ve actually seen it.
Happy Travels! x
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