Comino Ferry vs Private Boat Tour: Which is Better? (Honest Comparison)
Every year, thousands of visitors to Malta make the same decision: how do I get to the Blue Lagoon? The two main options are the public Comino ferry and a private boat tour. On the surface, the ferry seems like the obvious choice — it's cheaper, widely available, and easy to book. But once you've experienced both, the comparison becomes much more nuanced.
We've taken both options dozens of times. Here's our honest, unfiltered breakdown.
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The Comino Ferry: What You're Actually Getting
The public ferry from Cirkewwa (or Sliema) to Comino runs daily from April through October. Tickets typically cost between €10–€15 return per person, making it the budget option on paper. The journey takes around 20–25 minutes, and ferries run roughly every 30–45 minutes during peak season.
Sounds convenient, right? Here's the reality.
During July and August, the Blue Lagoon receives upwards of 5,000 visitors per day. The ferry deposits you — along with hundreds of other tourists — directly onto the main beach area. By 10am, every inch of sand is claimed. The water, while still beautiful, is crowded with swimmers, inflatable toys, and the constant noise of speedboats ferrying more people in.
You're given a fixed return time, which means you're watching the clock rather than enjoying the moment. If you want to explore other parts of Comino — the crystal lagoon, the caves, the quieter northern bays — you're on foot, in the heat, with no shade and no facilities beyond a few overpriced snack kiosks.
The ferry is a transaction. You pay, you arrive, you leave.
The Private Boat Tour: A Completely Different Experience
A private boat tour to Comino isn't just a different way to get there — it's a fundamentally different experience of Malta's waters.
With a private tour, you typically depart from Sliema, St. Julian's, or Valletta in the morning, before the crowds arrive. Your captain — a local who knows these waters intimately — takes you to the Blue Lagoon when it's still quiet, often before the first ferry even docks. You anchor in the lagoon, swim in water so clear you can see the seabed 8 meters below, and have the space to actually enjoy it.
But the Blue Lagoon is just one stop.
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A typical private tour includes stops at:
The Crystal Lagoon, a smaller, even more pristine bay just around the headland from the Blue Lagoon — almost never visited by ferry tourists. The sea caves along Comino's western coast, where you can swim inside ancient limestone caverns with shafts of light filtering through the water. The Santa Marija Bay, a sheltered beach on the eastern side of the island that remains quiet even in peak season. Snorkeling spots over Posidonia seagrass meadows teeming with sea bream, octopus, and the occasional ray.
Your captain provides snorkeling equipment, cold drinks, and local knowledge that no ferry ticket can offer. You stop when you want, stay as long as you like, and leave when you're ready.
Cost Comparison: Is the Ferry Really Cheaper?
Let's do the actual math.
The public ferry costs approximately €12–€15 per person return. For a couple, that's €24–€30. Add food and drinks on the island (expensive, limited options), sunbed rental if available (€5–€10 each), and you're looking at €50–€70 for a couple — for a rushed, crowded experience with a fixed return time.
A private half-day boat tour for two people typically costs €80–€120, depending on the operator and duration. That includes fuel, the captain's expertise, snorkeling equipment, and often drinks. Divided by the quality of experience, it's not even close.
For groups of 4–6 people, the private tour often works out cheaper per person than the ferry once you factor in all the extras.
Timing: Why It Matters More Than You Think
The Blue Lagoon is genuinely magical — but only when it's not overrun. The difference between arriving at 8:30am on a private boat versus stepping off the 11am ferry is the difference between paradise and a crowded beach club.
Private boat tours can depart early and arrive before the crowds. The ferry cannot.
If you're visiting Malta in July or August, this timing advantage alone justifies the private tour. In shoulder season (May, June, September, October), the ferry is more tolerable — but you still miss all the hidden spots that only a local captain knows.
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Flexibility vs Schedule
The ferry runs on a fixed schedule. If you miss your return boat, you wait. If the weather changes, you wait. If you want to stay longer at the Crystal Lagoon, you can't — you have a ticket for a specific return time.
A private tour adapts to you. Want to spend an extra hour snorkeling? Done. Want to skip the main Blue Lagoon entirely and explore the caves instead? Your captain will take you. Traveling with children who need a break from the sun? Anchor in a sheltered bay and relax.
This flexibility is particularly valuable for families, couples celebrating special occasions, and anyone who wants their Malta experience to feel personal rather than packaged.
What About the Gozo Ferry Combo?
Many visitors combine a Comino trip with a visit to Gozo. The public ferry route doesn't easily accommodate this — you'd need to return to Malta first, then take a separate ferry to Gozo.
A private boat tour can seamlessly include both islands in a single day, stopping at Comino in the morning and continuing to Gozo's dramatic coastline — the Inland Sea, Dwejra Bay, and the Azure Window area — in the afternoon. It's one of the best day trips in the entire Mediterranean.
Our Honest Verdict
The public ferry to Comino is fine if you're on a very tight budget and visiting in shoulder season. It gets you to the Blue Lagoon. That's about all it does.
The private boat tour is, without question, the superior experience. You see more of Malta's coastline, you visit places the ferry crowds never reach, you have the flexibility to explore at your own pace, and you arrive with local knowledge that transforms the trip from a tourist excursion into a genuine adventure.
Every traveler we've spoken to who has done both says the same thing: they wish they'd booked the private tour from the start.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I book a private boat tour? During peak season (July–August), book at least 3–5 days in advance. In shoulder season, 1–2 days is usually sufficient.
Is the Blue Lagoon worth visiting at all? Absolutely — it's one of the most beautiful spots in the Mediterranean. The question is just how you experience it.
Can I book a private tour for just two people? Yes. Most operators accommodate groups of 2–10 people. Smaller groups often get more personalized attention and access to smaller, shallower bays.
What should I bring? Sunscreen (reef-safe if possible), a hat, water shoes for rocky entries, and a waterproof phone case. Everything else — snorkeling gear, towels, drinks — is typically provided.
Frequently Asked Questions
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