REVIEW · MALTA
Comino, Blue Lagoon and Caves. Tour A
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Comino can feel like a postcard for real. This half-day boat tour balances cruising with time to swim and snorkel, plus cave time and live narration from the crew. I especially like the friendly, hands-on captain and staff (Captain Owen keeps you oriented from the start), and the mix of stops that avoids rushing you through the best water. The one thing to consider is that the boat can feel busy at peak times, and seating/space can run tight.
You also get practical onboard perks that make the day easier: shaded areas, showers, and a diving platform for those who want it. If you plan to get off at the Blue Lagoon itself, you must follow the QR code rule that starts 1 May 2025, or you’ll stay on the boat during that stop.
In This Review
- Key Points That Matter
- A 6.5-Hour Comino Day That Doesn’t Rush You
- Getting on the Boat: Sirens Quay Timing and Mobile Tickets
- First Cruise Leg: St. Paul’s Island, Ghadira Bay, and Mellieha Views
- Crystal Lagoon and Cave Pass-By: Photos Without the Rush
- Santa Marija Bay: 1.5 Hours to Snorkel, Swim, and Reset
- Blue Lagoon Rules: QR Code Timing for Getting Off the Boat
- Onboard Comfort: Sun Deck, Shade Deck, Showers, and Toilets
- Food and Drinks Onboard: Easy Budget-Control
- Caves and Rock Formations on the Way Back
- Who This Tour Is Best For
- Should You Book Tour A? My Take
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start and end?
- Where does the tour meet?
- Is the QR code required for the Blue Lagoon?
- What stops are included during the day?
- Is lunch included in the price?
- What’s included on the boat?
Key Points That Matter
- Captain Owen’s live guidance helps you time swims and understand what you’re seeing.
- Two real beach/water stops (Santa Marija Bay and the Blue Lagoon) give you actual time in the water.
- Caves and rock formations are part of the route, not just a quick drive-by.
- Onboard comfort includes shaded and sun decks, toilets, and showers.
- Blue Lagoon landing needs a free QR code with a specific time window after 1 May 2025.
A 6.5-Hour Comino Day That Doesn’t Rush You
Comino is small, but it’s not simple. The best views and swimming spots are spread out, and you need enough time to actually enjoy the water instead of treating it like a checkmark. This Tour A format gives you a half-day window that’s long enough for multiple stops and short enough to keep you out of the late-afternoon grind.
What you’ll like most is the rhythm: cruising with commentary, then dedicated swim time at Santa Marija Bay, then another longer water stop at the Blue Lagoon. That order also helps you get one quieter stretch and one iconic, photo-heavy stretch without feeling like you’re sprinting.
The value angle is strong too. At $46.10 per person (booked about a week and a half earlier on average), you’re paying for transport, boat amenities, and guided sightseeing—rather than just paying for a destination name.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Malta.
Getting on the Boat: Sirens Quay Timing and Mobile Tickets
Your meeting point is Sirens Quay 24, Triq San Geraldu, San Pawl il-Baħar, and the tour runs for about 6 hours 30 minutes. Your start time shows as 10:30 am, and your return is listed as by 5:00 pm.
You’ll use a mobile ticket, so have it ready on your phone before you get to the dock. Since this is a smaller group tour (maximum 90 travelers), arriving calmly and on time matters more than if you were hopping on a huge, constant-boarding cruise.
If you’re the type who likes to get settled before the day starts, aim to arrive with a little buffer. Some people note they felt uncertain at first when matching the right day or option, so being early helps you get your bearings fast.
First Cruise Leg: St. Paul’s Island, Ghadira Bay, and Mellieha Views
Once you depart, the itinerary focuses on Malta’s coastline landmarks as you head toward Comino. Early on, you cruise past St. Paul’s Island, where you can view nearly 2,000-year-old shipwreck sites.
Next comes a sweep of coastline highlights:
- Ghadira Bay, Malta’s largest sandy beach
- Ahrax Point of Mellieha
- The iconic Red Tower of Mellieha
This portion of the day is great if you want context. The crew’s live commentary makes the shoreline feel like more than just scenery—you get reasons for what you’re seeing, and you can relax while the boat handles the driving.
A small practical note: you’ll be on open water for parts of the morning, so if you get seasick easily, bring your usual remedy. The boat does have decks with shade, which helps.
Crystal Lagoon and Cave Pass-By: Photos Without the Rush
As the boat moves through the South Channel of Comino, you enter the Crystal Lagoon area. This is where the caves and rock scenery become the main event, and the boat slows down enough for you to take photos and orient yourself.
This segment matters because Comino’s beauty is partly about timing. If the boat just zoomed through, you’d miss the shapes and the cave entrances that make the place feel cinematic. Here, you get a real viewing window.
If visibility isn’t perfect on the day you go, you can still enjoy the look of the rocks and the water colors. Caves tend to reveal themselves better when the light is right, so afternoon sun can help—but this tour gives you a thoughtful chance to see them without waiting all day.
Santa Marija Bay: 1.5 Hours to Snorkel, Swim, and Reset
Your first meaningful Comino stop is Santa Marija Bay, a secluded sandy stretch that’s especially known for snorkeling. The schedule gives you about 1.5 hours here, which is the sweet spot for people who want both time in the water and time to dry off.
During this stop, you can get on and off the island area as you like. That freedom is a big deal because it lets you choose your pace:
- swim and snorkel from the water
- take breaks on the shore
- hang back if you’d rather not deal with entry-level snorkeling crowds
One tradeoff: this isn’t described as a long beach day. It’s a focused window, so if you want hours and hours of uninterrupted beach time, you might feel it’s just starting to get fun when the boat calls you back.
But if you like variety—sand, water, then back to the boat—this stop does exactly that.
Blue Lagoon Rules: QR Code Timing for Getting Off the Boat
The Blue Lagoon is the headline stop, and the boat aims to anchor away from the crowds, so you can enjoy the turquoise water with a calmer feel. The stop length is listed as 2 hours in the schedule, and 2.5 hours in the included features, so plan on roughly that range.
Here’s the crucial part. Starting 1 May 2025, you need a free QR code to step onto Comino via Blue Lagoon. The rule is specific: you must book the 13:30–17:30 time slot on www.blcomino.com (check your ticket details too). If you stay on the boat, no QR code is needed.
That means you have two good strategies:
- If you want the beach sand and walking time at the Blue Lagoon, book the QR slot you need.
- If you mainly want swimming and snorkeling, you can skip the QR code and just enjoy the water from the boat.
Also, the boat setup helps. There’s a side ladder and a diving platform, plus showers onboard near the ladder area. That makes the whole water-to-dry transition easier than on boats without those basics.
If you’re traveling with kids or anyone who prefers controlled entry, staying on the boat for the Blue Lagoon stop can be less stressful and still delivers the postcard look.
Onboard Comfort: Sun Deck, Shade Deck, Showers, and Toilets
The boat is part of the experience here. It’s described as clean and well kept, and the overall vibe has been likened to a kind of pirate-boat fun without being uncomfortable.
Comfort features you can count on:
- Sun deck for soaking up the day
- Shaded deck so you can actually cool down
- Showers near the side ladder area
- Toilet
- Side ladder and a diving platform
One practical consideration: while amenities are solid, some people note they didn’t find enough ideal lying-down space. So if your “vacation priority” is laying flat for long stretches, you may want to claim your spot early and stay flexible.
Still, for the price and the stops you get, the onboard comfort checks the boxes that matter most during a swim-heavy day.
Food and Drinks Onboard: Easy Budget-Control
Lunch isn’t included, but food and drinks are available for purchase onboard. A key point: people describe the prices as cheap, which matters because you’re spending your day on the water and you want an option that doesn’t force you to hunt for a meal on land.
This is where I’d be practical: bring a little cash or use whatever payment method the boat offers, but also plan that food isn’t a guaranteed part of your schedule. If you’re going to snorkel hard, you might prefer lighter snacks instead of a full meal during the busiest swim periods.
Caves and Rock Formations on the Way Back
On your return toward port, the boat keeps the scenery moving with more cave and rock stops. You’ll pass iconic formations like Elephant’s Head Rock and multiple Comino caves.
This matters because the caves are often what people remember most. If you only saw them from a distance, they could feel like another photo stop. Here, the route is structured so caves are part of the journey both going in and coming out.
If you care most about cave views, bring your phone/camera settings that handle bright light, and be ready to shoot quickly when the boat slows down.
Who This Tour Is Best For
This Tour A is a great fit if you want:
- real time in the water at Santa Marija Bay and the Blue Lagoon
- a smaller-group feel (up to 90 travelers) with live narration
- an easy half-day plan that doesn’t eat your whole day in Malta
It’s especially good for couples and friends who don’t want to overthink logistics. It’s also a sensible choice for families who like guided pacing and onboard bathroom/showers.
If you’re the kind of traveler who wants a quiet, uncrowded private-beach day with lots of lounging, you might find it a little busy at certain times. In that case, consider aiming for the QR-less boat-time option at the Blue Lagoon, since that can reduce time on land and help you keep control of your pace.
Should You Book Tour A? My Take
I’d book this if your top priorities are Comino water time, cave scenery, and getting a clear, guided day without paying for a long full-day excursion. The combination of Santa Marija Bay + Blue Lagoon is efficient, and the onboard features (shade, showers, toilet, ladders) make it practical for a swim-heavy schedule.
I’d hold off or plan carefully if your main goal is stepping onto the Blue Lagoon beach. After 1 May 2025, the QR code requirement is real, and it’s tied to a 13:30–17:30 window. If you don’t want to manage that timing, you can still enjoy the Blue Lagoon from the boat.
Bottom line: for the price, this is a solid way to see Comino’s highlights in one afternoon—especially if you’re happy to let Captain Owen and the crew guide the flow.
FAQ
What time does the tour start and end?
The tour start time is listed as 10:30 am, and it returns by 5:00 pm.
Where does the tour meet?
The meeting point is Sirens Quay 24, Triq San Geraldu, San Pawl il-Baħar, Malta, and the tour ends back at the meeting point.
Is the QR code required for the Blue Lagoon?
Starting 1 May 2025, a free QR code is required to step foot onto Comino’s Blue Lagoon. You must book the time slot 13:30–17:30. If you stay on the boat during the Blue Lagoon stop, no QR code is needed.
What stops are included during the day?
You’ll see the coastline en route, pass St. Paul’s Island, visit Ghadira Bay and Ahrax Point of Mellieha with views of the Red Tower, then go through the Crystal Lagoon area and caves, stop at Santa Marija Bay (about 1.5 hours), and spend time at the Blue Lagoon (about 2 hours).
Is lunch included in the price?
No. Lunch is available to purchase onboard, but it isn’t included.
What’s included on the boat?
You get access to sun and shaded decks, showers, a toilet, a side ladder, and a diving platform, plus live commentary and the listed time stops at Santa Marija Bay and the Blue Lagoon.
