Comino Blue Lagoon Tour by Powerboat

Speed meets turquoise water in Comino. This powerboat tour trades slow sightseeing for fast sea time, then gives you four hours in the Blue Lagoon to swim and explore nearby coves. I love the high-speed ride and the included Comino Sea Caves cruise from the boat. One drawback to plan for: if seas are rough, you may not get the same fast powerboat back.

You’re leaving from Sliema (with possible pickups in Valletta, Bugibba, and select resorts), riding a purpose-built craft designed for speed, then landing on the island between Malta and Gozo. It is English-speaking, limited to a small group size, and built for people who do not mind bouncing over waves.

If you want a calm, cushy boat day, this may not be your vibe. Also, it calls for moderate physical fitness, and the ride can be rough for people with back issues, especially if you sit toward the front.

Key things to know before you go

• A fast 20-seater setup: You ride a 33-foot Chaudron speedboat with twin Yamaha 300hp engines.
• Real time at the lagoon: About four hours on Comino’s Blue Lagoon to swim, snorkel, and hang out.
• Sea Caves by boat: The tour includes a cruise through Comino Sea Caves and around natural grottoes and arches.
• Multiple pickup options: Pickup from central areas like Valletta and Bugibba, plus select resorts, may be included.
• Weather matters: The experience requires good weather, and the operator will offer a different date or a full refund if canceled.
• Not a food tour: Food and drinks are not included, so plan to handle that on your own.

Sliema to Comino: the powerboat ride that sets the tone

This is a day built around a single big idea, get you to Comino quickly and give you time to enjoy it once you arrive. You start at Sliema Ferry at 11:00 am, or you may use a pickup from central Sliema, Valletta, Bugibba, and select resort locations. Either way, the flow is designed to get you seated fast and out on the water.

The boat itself matters here. This is a sleek Chaudron-built craft, about 33 feet long, carrying around 20 passengers. It runs on twin Yamaha 300hp engines. That means you are not just looking at Malta from the shoreline, you are slicing across open sea with spray and speed. If you like ocean motion and quick views, you will probably find this part is the best hook of the whole trip.

There is also a practical point: this is not a quiet, sit-and-stare kind of ride. If you are prone to feeling carsick or you have sensitive joints, you may want to think about seating and personal comfort, because the boat does bounce over waves. One person specifically flagged that front seating can be hard on backs for a couple of days, so if you have any back limitations, this is not the day to gamble.

Comino Blue Lagoon: four hours to swim, snorkel, and explore

Once you reach Comino, the tour gives you about four hours at the Blue Lagoon. That is the right amount of time to do what most people come for: swim in the clear shallows, snorkel if you brought your gear, and locate a spot that feels good to you. The inlet is described as sheltered turquoise water framed by rocks and sands, so you are not stuck in totally open exposure.

The value here is flexibility. You are not on a tight script on the beach. During your lagoon time, you can sunbathe, swim, and explore nearby coves at your own pace. That self-guided time is what makes the tour feel less like a factory stop and more like an island break.

The tradeoff is crowding. When the lagoon gets busy, it can feel cramped, and it can be harder to settle in right where you want. Also, the time ashore has a built-in decision you should make before you arrive: do you want calmer swimming and people-watching, or do you want to use the full four hours to move around?

One more practical note: if you are dropped off somewhere you have to orient yourself, give yourself a little buffer to find the meeting area for the next step. The tour ends by bringing you back to the meeting point area, but on Comino you still need to be able to get back to the boat on time.

Comino Sea Caves cruise: the photo payoff is real

After lagoon time, you move into the included boat tour of the Comino Sea Caves. This part is all about seeing sea caves, natural grottoes, and arches from the water. You cruise into and around these features and get photos from the boat.

Even if you are not a professional photographer, this is one of the parts that feels worth it because it is hard to replicate from land. You are traveling by boat, so you get that physical perspective, close to rock shapes and waterlines, where the formations actually make sense.

This is also where you can get some of your best color contrast. The combination of caves and turquoise shallows makes the whole area feel like a different world than the Malta you started with. If you enjoy quick scenic variety, this cave section is a strong match to the high-energy boat ride you experienced on the way out.

Pickup, timing, and how the 6 hours usually feels

On paper, the tour is about six hours total. In real life, it can feel like a fast day because you are moving between key chunks: travel time from Sliema to Comino, about four hours at the lagoon, and then the caves cruise plus the return ride.

Pickup matters because it affects your start-to-finish rhythm. You may be picked up from places such as central Sliema, Valletta, and Bugibba, and select resorts. That flexibility is a plus if you do not want to wrestle with pier logistics on your own. Still, you should treat your confirmation and any pickup instructions as essential reading, because timing confusion is a known risk in the broader world of sea tours.

Another consideration is the ride style on the way back. The tour is advertised as a round-trip powerboat experience, but there is at least one serious account where the return was not by the same fast powerboat because of rougher seas. The person involved reported limited movement on the alternative boat and said they were not told in advance. I cannot promise this will happen, but it is a good reminder to ask what the backup plan is if conditions change. If you are sensitive to motion or you have specific expectations, it is worth clarifying before you go.

Price and value: what $60.15 gets you in Malta terms

At about $60.15 per person, you are paying for speed, access, and included experiences. The list of included items is straightforward: local taxes, the powerboat tour, and the cave tour. You also get pickup and drop-off from Sliema and select locations, which reduces friction if you are staying away from the ferry area.

What you should weigh is that food and drinks are not included. So your real all-in budget is the base price plus whatever you plan to do on your own while you are ashore. If you treat the lagoon time as a swim and snack break, you can keep costs reasonable, but you should not assume lunch is covered.

Where the value gets real is in the combo of three things:

1. a fast ride on a purpose-built speedboat,
2. a meaningful chunk of independent time in the Blue Lagoon,
3. an included Comino Sea Caves boat cruise.

If you tried to do these pieces separately, the logistics would likely cost you time and energy. Paying for a package can be cheaper in stress alone, and for many people that is worth it.

Still, because there have been complaints about serious problems like denied boarding due to overbooking and missing refunds, you should pay attention to confirmation details and be ready to advocate for yourself at the pier if something looks off. Value only works when the tour actually runs the way it is sold.

Who this tour suits best (and who should skip it)

This is a good fit if you want the classic Comino day but with energy. You likely fit the profile if you:

• like fast boats and quick water views,
• want time to swim independently instead of only following a guide around,
• enjoy seeing caves and arches from the sea.

It may be a poor fit if you want a quiet, stable ride. The powerboat bounce is part of the experience, and at least one person reported strong post-ride muscle pain after sitting at the front. Also, if rough seas are a major concern for you, you should think about whether you are comfortable with potential changes to the return ride.

For families and multigenerational groups, this kind of speed can be hit or miss. The tour asks for moderate physical fitness, and while that is not the same as saying it is hard, it does mean you should be prepared for getting on and off a powerboat and dealing with a moving deck.

Practical tips to make the day smoother

A few common-sense steps can make this tour feel far easier:

• Plan to be early and ready for the pier scene, because you will be waiting for boarding and any pickup coordination.
• Bring what you need for swimming since you get time in the water, including a plan to get back to the boat on time for the caves and return.
• Expect sun and sea spray. You are on the water for a long chunk, and wind can make it easier to underestimate how strong conditions feel.
• If you have back or mobility issues, consider whether seating choice can affect comfort, and consider asking for guidance at check-in.

Also, if you care about the exact ride type back to Sliema, ask about the contingency plan for rough seas. The tour is powered for speed, but conditions can force changes.

Should you book the Comino Blue Lagoon by Powerboat?

Book it if you want a lively, efficient Comino day: fast transport, enough lagoon time to actually enjoy the water, and the added Comino Sea Caves cruise. For the right traveler, it is a satisfying mix of speed and freedom.

Consider skipping or switching if you:

• want a calm ride and easy movement on deck,
• have back problems or you know your body reacts badly to bumpy travel,
• are especially risk-sensitive about service problems, since there are serious negative reports tied to overbooking and customer handling.

If you do book, I would treat it like this: confirm your pickup details early, arrive with time to spare, and ask how the operator handles rough-sea situations. Do those two things and you give yourself the best odds of getting the high-speed, cave-and-lagoon day you paid for.

FAQ

Where is the tour meeting point?

The tour starts at Sliema Ferry in Sliema, Malta.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 11:00 am.

How long is the Comino Blue Lagoon tour?

It is about 6 hours.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

What is included in the tour besides the Blue Lagoon time?

It includes the powerboat tour and a boat trip of Comino Sea Caves.

Are food and drinks included?

No, food and drinks are not included.

Is pickup available from Valletta or Bugibba?

Pickup and drop-off service from Valletta, Bugibba, and select resorts is included.

What is the weather policy if conditions are poor?

The experience requires good weather. If canceled due to poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

What is the maximum group size?

The tour/activity has a maximum of 22 travelers.