The Cirkewwa half-day tour: small group, short crossing, full experience

Twenty-four people is a different species of boat trip. You board without queueing, hear the crew without a megaphone, and swim without tracking a hundred heads back to the right vessel. The free paddleboards and swim noodles matter more on a small boat too: no rota, no waiting, just grab one at the Crystal Lagoon stop. For anyone who has done a packed 150-passenger cruise and found it impersonal, the contrast here is the whole point.

The short crossing is the other advantage. Because Cirkewwa sits directly opposite Comino, the run to the lagoon is only 10 to 15 minutes, compared with 45 from Bugibba or up to 90 from Sliema. That efficiency packs the greatest hits into the tightest window: past the historic Comino Tower of Monte Cristo fame, a 45 minute swim stop at the Crystal Lagoon, the Santa Maria Caves and Promising Rock, then the Blue Lagoon itself. You get a full Comino experience in half a day.

Departure from the Cirkewwa and Mellieha area, with the crossing measured in minutes rather than hours. First anchor is the Crystal Lagoon on Comino's west side for a 45 minute swim and snorkel in water famous for its clarity, and this is where the free paddleboards come into their own on the calm surface. The boat then rounds the coastline past the caves and rock formations to the Blue Lagoon for the main stop, with time ashore at Santa Maria Bay on many departures.

Life jackets are on board for anyone who wants one, the seating is properly shaded, and snorkel gear rents on board if you did not bring your own. Food and drinks are available at the beach stops rather than included. The small group means the crew has time for individuals, which makes this one of the gentler introductions to open-water swimming for anyone who is nervous.

Stepping ashore at the Blue Lagoon requires the free government access pass: an online registration on blcomino.com that returns a QR code for your date, capped at around 4,000 visitors a day. It is free and applies only to going ashore, not to swimming from the boat. On this tour, the Crystal Lagoon swim and the boat-based lagoon time need no pass; only walking onto the Blue Lagoon beach or Santa Maria Bay does.

If your departure includes time ashore at Santa Maria Bay and you want to take it, register in advance, especially in peak season when the slots fill. The crew can advise, but sorting the free pass the night before is the reliable move.

The 26 euro fare includes the cruise with a maximum of 24 guests, both lagoon swim stops, the caves route, free stand-up paddleboards and swim noodles, shaded seating, life jackets and an experienced crew. Not included: food and drinks (buy on board or at the beach stops), snorkel rental, and the free government access pass if you go ashore.

The value here is specific. At 26 euro you pay two euro more than the classic full-day loop, but you get the 24-guest cap and the included paddleboards, which the big boats either lack or charge for. You give up the full-day length and Gozo. For travellers based in the north or short on time, that is often the right trade. Rate checked 2026-07-13; live availability below.

Three groups get the most from this format. Visitors staying in Mellieha or the north, for whom the jetty is minutes away and the short crossing maximises water time. Anyone whose Malta itinerary cannot spare a full day but still wants the real Comino experience rather than a rushed ferry hop. And travellers who actively dislike big-boat logistics and want a small, personal group with a crew that has time for them. It is also the gentlest option for nervous swimmers, thanks to the paddleboards, noodles and calm 24-guest atmosphere.

It suits you less if you want Gozo included, a party deck, or a full day on the water, all of which the larger full-day boats provide. And couples chasing pure romance may prefer the sunset cruise or a private charter. But as a short, high-quality introduction to Comino from the closest departure point, nothing else on our list matches the combination of small group and minimal transit.

The two swim stops on this tour are both excellent for snorkelling, and the small group means you actually get space to enjoy them. The Crystal Lagoon's calm, clear water is ideal for beginners and the perfect place to try the free paddleboards, while the Blue Lagoon's shallow sand bank gives near-perfect visibility over the seafloor. Because there are only 24 guests, the crew has time to point out the best spots and help anyone who is new to snorkelling, which larger operations simply cannot do.

Pack a mask and snorkel of your own to skip the rental deposit, water shoes for the rocky shore, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen, and a towel, which is not provided. Carry cash for food and drinks at the beach stops and for any rental. Because the crossing from Cirkewwa is so short, you spend more of your three to four hours actually in the water than on any other tour, so a little snorkel preparation pays off more here than on the long-transit boats. If you plan to walk ashore at Santa Maria Bay, register the free blcomino.com pass the night before.

Departures leave from the Cirkewwa and Mellieha area (open in Google Maps), at the island's northern tip: the same corner served by buses to the Gozo ferry, so connections from St Paul's Bay and beyond run all day. Because the crossing to Comino from here is the shortest on the island, this is also where the plain Comino ferry departs, covered in our ferry guide. Your confirmation names the exact meeting point.

Claim a paddleboard at the Crystal Lagoon stop first; it is the best water of the trip for it, and on a 24-guest boat there are enough to go around without a scramble. Bring your own snorkel to skip the rental, water shoes for the rocky shore, and the free blcomino.com pass sorted the night before if you want beach time at the Blue Lagoon. The shaded seats go first on August departures, so board promptly. And because the crossing is so short, this is a good choice if you or your children get restless on long boat rides: you are swimming within fifteen minutes of leaving the jetty. For a full day with Gozo instead, see the classic loop.