Sailing Boat Trip: Explore Comino, Crystal/Blue Lagoon

Turquoise water is only half the story. This eight-hour sailing trip from Malta combines a scenic cruise along the northern coast with swimming stops at San Blas Bay in Gozo, Comino’s Blue Lagoon, and the quieter Crystal Lagoon. With a maximum of nine adults, the boat should feel more personal than a large day cruise, and the captain and crew handle the sailing while you focus on the sea.

I especially like the small group size and the amount of time set aside for swimming. You also get lunch, and the crew has supplied towels, snorkeling equipment, wine, and soft drinks on past trips. The main drawback is simple: this is a full day on the water, and the price of $168.17 per person may feel high if you mainly want a quick swim at Comino.

The trip begins at 9:00 am from Kanpai Charter Office at Crown Marina Apartments in Ta’ Xbiex and returns there. It is for adults only, requires good weather, and confirmation arrives within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability.

Key points to know before booking

• Three strong swim stops: San Blas Bay, the Blue Lagoon, and Crystal Lagoon each offer a different setting, from a quiet Gozo cove to Comino’s famous turquoise water.
• A maximum of nine adults: The small shared charter gives you more room and a calmer feel than a packed excursion boat.
• Lunch and useful beach gear included: Lunch is included, and the crew has provided towels, snorkeling equipment, wine, and soft drinks.
• The cruise is part of the experience: You pass St. Julian’s, Pembroke, Buġibba, St. Paul’s Bay, Mellieħa Bay, and Comino before reaching the swimming stops.
• Two hours at Gozo and two hours at Comino: The schedule leaves real time for swimming and relaxing instead of rushing from one stop to the next.
• Adult-only and weather dependent: This suits couples, friends, and adults looking for an easy day at sea, but a poor-weather cancellation is possible.

From Ta’ Xbiex to Malta’s northern coast

Your morning starts at 9:00 am at Kanpai Charter Office, 1 Crown Marina Apartments, on the Ta’ Xbiex seafront. The activity ends back at this same meeting point, and the location is near public transportation.

The first part of the day is a coastal sightseeing cruise. It lets you see Malta from the water, where the contrast between built-up waterfronts and rougher shorelines becomes clear. If you enjoy watching a place change gradually rather than rushing straight to the main attraction, this opening section adds real value.

As the boat passes St. Julian’s, you see old stone buildings, waterfront cafés, luxury hotels, and the boats gathered around Spinola Bay. The Love Monument is another small landmark to watch for. This is Malta’s polished, social side, with plenty of activity along the shore.

The Pembroke Ranges bring a sharper change. The coastline becomes rougher, with rocky cliffs, open ground, and old military structures. From the boat, you get a useful sense of Malta’s less developed edge without needing a separate walking route.

Passing Buġibba and St. Paul’s Bay

Buġibba appears as a busy seaside town, with modern hotels, a promenade, rocky bathing areas, and people in the water. From offshore, the town’s shape makes more sense than it often does from street level. You can also look toward St. Paul’s Islands, which sit beyond the bay.

The water around Buġibba is described as clear and deep blue, so keep an eye out for swimmers and snorkelers below. Still, remember that this is a passing view, not a scheduled stop. You will not have time here to explore the promenade or town.

At St. Paul’s Bay, the mood softens. The curved harbor holds fishing boats and small inlets, while St. Paul’s Islands sit offshore. The islands are linked to the story of the apostle Paul’s shipwreck, one of the best-known religious stories connected with Malta.

This stretch is valuable because it adds context to the later swim stops. You are not simply being taken to a famous lagoon. You are seeing how Malta’s towns, bays, cliffs, and historic sites fit together from the sea.

Mellieħa Bay and the approach to Comino

Mellieħa Bay gives you one of Malta’s broadest views of sandy shoreline. Golden sand, clear water, and people on the beach create a different scene from the rocky coast near Buġibba. Families and sunseekers fill the bay, especially in good weather.

Near the rocky coast is Smuggler’s Cave, a sea-carved opening associated with stories of secret landings. You may not spend long near it, but the sight adds a little mystery to an otherwise sunny stretch of coast.

As Comino comes closer, the shore becomes wilder. You see cliffs, small coves, and the island’s famous rock formations. Look for Elephant Head, a natural shape that resembles an elephant lowering its trunk into the sea. It is an amusing detail, but also a reminder that Comino’s appeal comes from its rock and water rather than buildings or formal attractions.

The approach is one of the best parts for photography. The changing color of the sea, the pale rock, and the low, rugged profile of Comino make the boat ride feel like more than transport.

San Blas Bay, Gozo: two hours to slow down

The first main stop is San Blas Bay on Gozo. The boat anchors for about two hours, giving you a proper break from the cruise and enough time to swim, relax, eat lunch, and enjoy the surroundings.

San Blas Bay is framed by terracotta-colored cliffs and green ground. The setting feels quieter than the better-known bathing spots on Comino, and the water is described as clear and inviting. This is a good opening swim because it gives you space to settle into the day before reaching the more famous lagoons.

Lunch is included. The supplied information does not give a menu, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish. Past trips have also included wine and soft drinks, which makes the meal feel more generous, although the exact food and drink arrangement should be confirmed when you book.

The two-hour stop is important. A short anchorage can leave you feeling as if you have only taken a quick dip before moving on. Here, you have time to swim, sit in the sun, use the snorkeling equipment, and eat without watching the clock every few minutes.

San Blas Bay is not the best match for you if your main goal is a lively beach scene or a long land visit. This experience keeps you on the boat and at the water’s edge. There is no listed walking tour of Gozo, and the value comes from the bay itself.

Comino’s Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon

After Gozo, the boat heads to Comino for another two-hour stop covering the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon. These are the headline locations, and they offer two different versions of Comino.

The Blue Lagoon is the more famous of the two. Its water is intensely turquoise and unusually clear, with pale rock around the shore. It is the place for a memorable swim, floating in the water, and taking photographs that look almost too bright to be real.

Its fame is also its limitation. The Blue Lagoon is the name most people know, so it can feel less peaceful than San Blas Bay. The tour gives you access by boat, but the supplied information does not promise a private section of the lagoon or an empty shoreline. If you want a quiet swim, use your time well and pay attention to the captain’s instructions.

Crystal Lagoon offers a different mood. It is described as a more secluded spot, with cliffs, deep blue water, and good conditions for snorkeling. The setting feels more enclosed and dramatic than the open Blue Lagoon.

The two lagoons work well together. At the Blue Lagoon, you get the famous color and the classic Comino view. At Crystal Lagoon, you get cliffs, darker water, and a quieter place to look below the surface. Towels and snorkeling equipment have been supplied on past trips, but it is sensible to confirm what will be available for your departure.

The two-hour Comino visit is shared between both locations, so do not assume you will receive two full hours at each lagoon. The schedule allows time for both, but the captain may adjust the order or duration based on conditions.

What the small charter changes

A maximum of nine adults is one of the strongest reasons to consider this trip. Small numbers usually make boarding, eating, swimming, and asking questions less awkward. You are also less likely to feel lost in a large crowd when the captain explains the plan.

The experience is still a shared charter, not a private boat. You will spend the day with other adults, and the group will influence the atmosphere. If you want complete control over the route, meal timing, music, and swimming schedule, a private charter would suit you better.

The captain has been praised for being experienced, safety-minded, and helpful throughout the day. That matters on a boat trip that depends on good judgment around cliffs, swimming areas, and changing sea conditions. The crew has also been described as friendly and well organized, which is exactly what you want when the day includes several stops.

There are no private cabins included. That is unlikely to matter for a daytime sailing trip, but it is worth noting if you were expecting an overnight-style boat with personal indoor space.

Is $168.17 good value?

At $168.17 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Comino. You are paying for roughly eight hours, the boat journey along much of Malta’s northern coast, two major swimming areas at Comino, a Gozo stop, lunch, and a small adult-only group.

The price makes more sense if you want the full day rather than a single destination. The cruise past St. Julian’s, Pembroke, Buġibba, St. Paul’s Bay, and Mellieħa Bay is part of the package. You also avoid arranging separate transport to Gozo and Comino, although the boat begins and ends in Ta’ Xbiex rather than collecting you from your hotel.

The strongest value comes from the combination of time and small numbers. Two hours at San Blas Bay and two hours around Comino give you a chance to enjoy the water instead of checking the clock after one quick swim. Lunch, towels, snorkeling equipment, wine, and soft drinks add further value when they are provided as described.

If you are mainly interested in seeing the Blue Lagoon from a boat, you can likely find shorter and less expensive options. If you want a relaxed full-day outing with several coastal views, a meal, and three worthwhile swim settings, the price is easier to justify.

Who should book this sailing day?

I would recommend it for adults who want a slow, water-focused day rather than a packed sightseeing schedule. Couples and friends should find the small group appealing, especially if they enjoy swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and scenic cruising.

It also suits people who prefer having the main practical details handled for them. The captain chooses the route, the crew provides lunch, and equipment has been available for swimming and snorkeling. You can spend less time organizing and more time enjoying the sea.

This is less suitable if you want a detailed tour of Gozo on land. San Blas Bay is the Gozo stop, and the day remains centered on the boat and the water. It is also not a good choice if you dislike long periods in the sun or if you need a flexible indoor plan in case of bad weather.

The activity is for adults only, and most people can participate. Still, you should be comfortable getting on and off a boat and spending much of the day at sea. Those details are not presented as special accessibility features, so ask the operator directly if you have mobility concerns.

Booking confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 9:00 am start. Weather can cancel the trip, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number needed for the trip is not reached.

Should you book the Comino sailing trip?

Book it if you want more than a quick Blue Lagoon visit. The best reasons are the maximum of nine adults, the two-hour swim periods, lunch, and the chance to see Malta’s northern coast before reaching Gozo and Comino.

Skip it if your budget is tight, you want a land-based Gozo tour, or you prefer a short outing with no weather risk. For everyone else, this is a well-planned adult day on the water, with enough time to swim and relax instead of racing between famous stops.

FAQ

How long is the sailing trip?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours.

What time does the trip start?

The start time is 9:00 am.

Where does the boat leave from?

The meeting point is Kanpai Charter Office 1, Crown Marina Apartments, Ta’ Xbiex Seafront, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1027, Malta.

Where does the activity end?

The trip ends back at the same meeting point in Ta’ Xbiex.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $168.17 per person.

Is lunch included?

Yes, lunch is included.

Are towels and snorkeling equipment provided?

Past trips have included towels and snorkeling equipment. Confirm the current equipment arrangement when booking.

Is this trip suitable for children?

No. The trip is for adults only.

How many people can join the boat trip?

The maximum group size is nine travelers.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not refunded.