Gozo Boat Trips: Private Charters, Comino Crossings and Group Tours

What a Gozo boat trip covers: departures from Mġarr Harbour and Ċirkewwa

Most boat trips around Gozo start at Mġarr Harbour on the island's north-east coast, where the Gozo Channel ferries also dock. GozoBlu meets guests at Mġarr or at Ċirkewwa on the Malta side, and Yippee Tours' private charters depart from Mġarr Harbour, arranging transfers from Malta when needed. Mġarr harbour is the practical base, so plan your day around getting there rather than around a hotel lobby.

From there, boats work the coast of Gozo and the channel to Comino. Typical destinations named by operators include Ramla Bay, San Blas Bay, Daħlet Qorrot Bay, Mġarr ix-Xini and Dwejra Bay on Gozo, plus the Blue Lagoon, Crystal Lagoon and the sea caves around Comino. The crossing between Gozo and Comino is short, which is why a half-day charter can include swim stops on both islands.

If you want the boat to be one part of a wider island day, pair it with the sights inland. A Gozo map helps you see how close Mġarr is to Victoria and the Citadel, and how the Ġgantija Temples and Ta' Pinu fit into a loop back to the harbour.

Private charters from Gozo: hourly rates, boat types and what the skipper decides

Private charters are priced by the hour or by the trip, not per seat, so the cost per person falls as the group grows. GozoBlu advertises private boat tours starting at €100 an hour, with a two-hour option and full or half-day trips of two to eight hours. The same operator runs a 24-foot RIB with a Yamaha 250 engine and a larger Zodiac Medline 900 for bigger groups.

Yippee Tours charters by the hour with an experienced captain, and the itinerary is agreed on deck: morning swim stop, later afternoon cruise, or a run to Comino. Because the route is flexible, the skipper's local knowledge matters more than a fixed timetable. Tell them what you want to see before you leave the harbour rather than halfway through.

Charter boats usually carry snorkelling gear and shade, and swim stops are part of the product rather than an add-on. If you prefer to keep your feet dry, say so when booking, because a private charter can be shaped either way.

The fast Comino ferry from Mġarr: crossing time, return times and the sea-cave detour

The scheduled ferry from Gozo to the Blue Lagoon takes about 15 minutes each way and costs from €13 return. Departures from Mġarr are published through the day from 08:00 to 17:00, with returns from the Blue Lagoon at 12:15, 14:00, 15:15 and 17:00. The return leg includes a visit to Comino's sea caves, including the large collapsed-roof cave near the Crystal Lagoon.

Bookings can be cancelled for a full refund up to seven days before departure, but changes of date or time count as amendments and are not refundable. A QR code from the operator's booking site is required to board. The operator states that the timetable is adjusted for weather and sea conditions, so treat the published times as a service window rather than a promise.

This ferry suits travellers based on Gozo who want a few hours at the lagoon without committing to a full-day tour. It is a shared service, so expect other passengers and a fixed return time rather than a custom route.

Group boat and cruise days that pair Comino with a short Gozo tour

Malta Tours sells per-seat products that combine a coastal cruise with a short land visit. The Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon cruise runs six to eight hours from €42 per person and includes a visit to Victoria and the Citadel plus swim time at the lagoon. A shorter Comino and Blue Lagoon cruise from €30 per person runs six to eight hours with more time in the water, and a Comino caves, bays and lagoons cruise of about five hours starts from €35 per person.

These cruises suit travellers who want someone else to handle the logistics and are happy with a set programme. The trade-off is time in one place rather than a bespoke route. If you would rather spend the day ashore, there are plenty of things to do in Gozo that need no boat at all, including the Gran Castello Historic House in Victoria.

For a group that wants the boat to itself, a private speedboat charter of two hours for up to eight people is listed from €260 per group. That works out cheaper per head than per-seat cruises once you fill the boat, and you choose the stops.

Coach, jeep and tuk-tuk days from Malta that include a boat leg

Several operators pick up in Malta, cross to Gozo, tour the island by land and add a boat element. Malta Tours' Discovering Gozo coach tour runs about eight hours from €70 per person with visits to the Ġgantija Temples, Ta' Pinu Shrine, Dwejra Bay, Victoria and the Citadel, and pick-ups starting at 07:50. A 4x4 UTV tour with a Comino caves boat trip runs about eight hours from €80 per person, and a jeep tour with a Comino boat trip from €85. A tuk-tuk tour with a Comino boat trip also runs about eight hours from €85, and a sunset version starting at 12:30 combines the cruise with a golden-hour drive. These are long days that begin with a Malta pick-up, so the published start times are the operator's schedule, not a guarantee of when the bus reaches your hotel.

Land tours of this kind cover a lot of ground in a day and include the island's headline sights. If you want to weigh the crossing against a slower stay, our guide to whether Gozo is worth visiting sets out the argument for both.

Shared shuttle cruise versus private charter: cost per group and flexibility

Work out the cost per head before you book. A private charter at a starting rate of €100 an hour costs €200 for two hours, so four people pay about €50 each and eight pay about €25 each before any extras. The shared ferry at from €13 return is far cheaper per person, but you share the boat and keep to its timetable.

Private speedboat charters are quoted per group, not per seat: the two-hour Comino lagoons and caves charter is for up to eight people. That makes sense for a family or a group of friends who want the boat to themselves. For a couple, a per-seat cruise or the ferry will usually cost less.

A private boat charter is also sold by third-party platforms, so compare the same route and duration across operators before paying. Check whether fuel, skipper, snorkelling gear and drinks are included, because those extras change the real price.

How long each option takes and how much of the day it fills

The Comino ferry is the shortest option: about 15 minutes each way, with a few hours at the lagoon on the return times that suit you. A two-hour private tour fits around half a day, leaving time for Victoria or the temples. Full-day cruises run six to eight hours, and coach or jeep tours from Malta run seven to nine hours including pick-ups.

Sunset products start in the afternoon and run into the evening, such as the tuk-tuk sunset tour with the Comino and lagoons cruise starting at 12:30. Check the published duration against your own plans rather than assuming the boat returns when you expect.

What to bring and how far ahead to book

Pack swimwear and a towel, water shoes or sandals, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, water and snacks, a waterproof bag and a camera. The ferry operator lists these items and notes that a QR code is required to board. Cash is useful for small purchases at the harbour.

Book the ferry at least a few days ahead and private charters earlier in high season, when boats and skippers are busy. Confirm the meeting point, the cancellation terms and whether the price includes fuel and gear before you pay.

Which Gozo boat trip should you book?

Book the Comino ferry if you want a cheap, short crossing from Gozo with a cave detour on the way back. Choose a private charter if you are a group of four or more and want flexibility; the cost per head falls quickly. Take a group cruise or a coach-and-boat day if you would rather someone else handled the logistics.