Planning a day on the water is one of the best ways to experience Malta, Comino, and Gozo. But with so many boat tours in Malta to choose from, it is easy to book a trip based on a few attractive photos and an itinerary without thinking about what the experience will actually be like.
That can lead to a common problem: the tour itself may be perfectly good, but it simply isn’t the right tour for you.
A couple looking for a quiet day in secluded bays has very different priorities from a family wanting to see the Blue Lagoon. A group of friends may want plenty of swimming time, while first-time visitors might prefer to see as much of the coastline as possible.
The biggest mistake, therefore, isn’t always choosing the wrong operator. It is booking a boat tour without first considering what you actually want from your day on the water.
Here are some of the most common mistakes travellers make when choosing a Malta boat tour and what to consider instead.
1. Assuming All Boat Tours in Malta Offer the Same Experience
Two boat tours in Malta can advertise the same destinations and still offer completely different experiences. Before booking, consider:
- How many people will be on board
- How much time you will spend at each location
- Whether the route can be adapted
- How much time is dedicated to swimming and snorkelling
- How much time is spent travelling between stops
- Whether the skipper can adjust the route
- Whether the tour is focused on sightseeing, swimming, or simply enjoying the day
One GOZOblu guest, Carolin, highlighted this difference after her private boat experience, describing the flexibility and personal nature of the day. You can read Carolin’s full guest review of her GOZOblu private boat tour to see how the experience compared with a typical organised boat trip.
So, when comparing boat tours in Malta, don’t just look at the list of places you’ll visit. Consider how you’ll experience them. Ask yourself: Do I want to see as many places as possible or spend more time enjoying fewer places?
There is no right answer. The important thing is choosing a tour that matches your group, your pace, and the type of day you want to have.
2. Assuming the Blue Lagoon Is the Whole Experience
The Blue Lagoon is undoubtedly one of Malta’s most famous attractions, so it’s understandable that a Blue Lagoon boat tour is high on many visitors’ lists. However, booking a trip solely because it includes the Blue Lagoon can mean overlooking everything else that makes exploring Comino and Malta by boat so special.
Comino has far more to offer than its famous turquoise lagoon. Your day might include:
- The Blue Lagoon
- Crystal Lagoon
- Comino’s sea caves
- Santa Marija Bay and surrounding coves
- Snorkelling and swimming stops
- Gozo’s coastline
- Quieter bays away from the busiest areas
The Blue Lagoon can certainly be a highlight, but it doesn’t have to be the entire experience.
If the Blue Lagoon is your main reason for visiting Comino, read this next: why booking a private boat tour is the best way to experience the Blue Lagoon in Malta.
And if you’re looking for more than swimming at the Blue Lagoon, there are plenty of other ways to enjoy Comino. We’ve compiled the top 12 best summer activities you can do in Comino. The list includes some of the experiences worth adding to your day.
At GOZOblu, our private charters allow the route to be adapted around the day’s conditions and what your group actually wants to experience.
3. Choosing the Route Before Considering the Sea Conditions
It is tempting to plan your itinerary weeks in advance and expect every stop to happen exactly as advertised. But when it comes to boat tours in Malta, the best route is not always the one you planned before arriving.
Wind direction and sea conditions can affect which side of Comino or Gozo is most comfortable on a particular day. A sheltered bay that is ideal in the morning may not be the best option later in the day.
That is why flexibility matters.
At GOZOblu Private Boat Tours, our skippers consider the weather, sea conditions, and your group’s interests when planning the day. If conditions make one area less suitable, the route can be adjusted to find a more comfortable and enjoyable alternative. In some circumstances, we may even recommend changing the day or cancelling rather than going out in conditions that could compromise the experience.
This is something one of our recent guests, Jascha, experienced first-hand. Before their private boat tour, the skipper was upfront about the strong winds and gave the group the option to cancel. They decided to go ahead on the best available day, with the route adapted to the conditions. As Jascha explained, they ultimately had to skip two planned stops but still enjoyed “great swimming and dining stops” and appreciated how the skipper handled the changes, even offering them a discount because of the stops they missed.
That is an important distinction when choosing a boat tour: a good skipper should not simply follow an itinerary regardless of the conditions. They should know when to adapt it.
If you’re planning your trip around the weather, make sure to read this next: weather to consider for a boat tours in Malta. This guide explains how wind and sea conditions can affect your experience.
And if you’re deciding which islands and locations to include, take a look at our guide to the best Malta island-hopping routes for practical ideas on planning your day.
Local Tip: During the warmer months, mornings can often offer calmer sea conditions, although this depends on the wind on the day. If swimming or snorkelling is a priority, ask your operator how they adapt their routes to the conditions rather than assuming a fixed itinerary will always provide the best experience.
4. Assuming More Stops Means a Better Boat Tour
When comparing itineraries, it can be tempting to think that the tour with the most stops offers the best value.
Seven stops must be better than four, right?
Not necessarily.
A long list of destinations can mean that you spend less time actually enjoying each one. You might arrive at a beautiful bay, take a few photos, swim briefly and then leave because the itinerary needs to stay on schedule.
A tour with fewer stops can sometimes provide a much more enjoyable day if you have enough time to properly swim, snorkel, relax and explore.
Think about the difference between:
“We visited eight places.”
and
“We had time to actually enjoy the places we visited.”
This is one of the advantages of a private charter. Rather than rushing from one location to the next, the pace can be adapted around what your group actually wants to see and do.
One GOZOblu guest, Rachel, described her experience perfectly, explaining that the trip was “at our pace” and that their captain “tailored the stops around what we wanted to see”. The family also discovered caves and snorkelling spots they would not have been able to access with larger boats.
For families especially, this flexibility can make a huge difference. Rachel noted that her children, aged 10 and 13, “had the best time” and described the experience as the highlight of their trip.
That is why, when comparing boat tours, don’t simply count the number of stops. Ask how much time you’ll actually have to enjoy them.
With a private tour, fewer stops can sometimes mean more of the experience.
5. Trying to Fit Too Much Into a Short Tour
Another common mistake is expecting a half-day trip to cover everything.
You might want:
- Blue Lagoon
- Crystal Lagoon
- Comino caves
- Gozo
- Several swimming stops
- Snorkelling
- Lunch
- Sightseeing
All in a few hours.
It sounds great on paper, but a boat still has to travel between locations.
If you want a relaxed experience with plenty of time in the water, it is worth being realistic about how much you can comfortably fit into your day.
If seeing both islands is important to you, a longer private itinerary can give you considerably more flexibility.
6. Assuming a Private Boat Means You Can Do Absolutely Anything
Private charters offer significantly more flexibility, but that does not mean every request can or should be guaranteed.
Your skipper still needs to consider:
- Sea conditions
- Wind
- Safety
- Restricted areas
- Other boats and swimmers
- Access to particular bays
- Conditions around caves and rocky areas
For example, booking a private boat to Comino does not mean that you should expect to visit every cave or swimming spot regardless of the conditions.
The advantage of a private tour is that the day can be adapted where it is safe and practical to do so.
That is a much better expectation to have than assuming that “private” means “anything goes.”
7. Choosing a Tour Without Thinking About Your Group
The best boat tour for one group may be completely different from the right choice for another. Before booking, consider who you’re travelling with and what everyone wants from the day.
- Families: Look for flexible schedules, comfortable seating, and plenty of time for swimming.
- Couples: Privacy, quieter locations and a more personalised pace may be more important.
- Snorkellers: Prioritise tours with longer swimming stops and opportunities to explore the water.
- First-time visitors: A mix of Comino, caves, swimming and Gozo’s coastline can help you experience more of the islands.
If you’re unsure which experience suits your group, do not book until you read this guide: best boat tours in Malta for different types of travellers. And if you’re considering a private charter, our complete guide to private boat trips in Malta explains what to expect before booking.
The key is to choose a tour that fits your group, rather than trying to fit your group into a fixed itinerary.
8. Assuming the Most Famous Spots Are Always the Best Stops
The Blue Lagoon may be Malta’s most famous swimming spot, but that doesn’t necessarily make it the best stop for your group on the day.
Crowds, wind and sea conditions can all affect the experience. Sometimes, a quieter bay or another part of Comino may offer better conditions for swimming, snorkelling or simply relaxing.
If you’re deciding between the Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon, our Crystal Lagoon vs Blue Lagoon guide explains what to expect from each. You can also discover more of the best beaches in Malta, Gozo and Comino to experience by boat.
Don’t choose a boat tour simply because it visits the most famous spots. A good skipper should consider the day’s conditions and help you find the places that best suit your group.
With GOZOblu Private Boat Tours, we offer the flexibility to adapt the route where conditions allow so your day isn’t limited to a fixed list of stops.
9. Not Thinking About What You Actually Want From the Day
Perhaps the biggest mistake is asking:
“What is the best boat tour in Malta?”
when the better question is
“What kind of day do I want to have?”
- If you want to swim as much as possible, look for an itinerary that gives you plenty of time in the water.
- If you want to see caves and coastline, prioritise sightseeing.
- If you want privacy and flexibility, consider a private charter.
- If you are travelling with children or a mixed group, flexibility can be more valuable than ticking every location off a list.
- If photography is important, having control over the pace can make a significant difference.
There is no single “best” Malta boat tour for everyone.
There is only the tour that best matches what you want from your day.
10. Thinking You Have to Choose Between Comino and Gozo
Some visitors assume they have to choose between Comino and Gozo, but a longer private charter can sometimes combine parts of both in one day.
You could swim around Comino before continuing towards Gozo for more swimming or coastal sightseeing. If you’re considering boat trips in Gozo, this can be a convenient way to experience the coastline without spending the day travelling around the island by road.
The exact route depends on your available time and sea conditions. For a land-based visit, see our guide to how to visit Gozo in one day. And if you’re deciding which island to visit, our guide to Malta, Gozo or Comino can help you compare them.
How to Choose the Right Malta Boat Tour for Your Trip
Before booking, run through these questions:
- What do we actually want to see? Do you mainly want Blue Lagoon, or are you interested in caves, Gozo, hidden coves and quieter swimming spots too?
- How much time do we have? A longer trip gives you more room to explore without rushing between locations.
- How many people are travelling? A private charter can make sense when travelling with family or friends because the cost is based on the boat rather than simply buying individual seats.
- Do we want swimming, sightseeing or both? Make sure the itinerary reflects how you actually want to spend your time.
- How important is flexibility? If you don’t want to be tied to a rigid schedule, look for a tour where the skipper can adapt the route.
- Do we want to combine Gozo and Comino? If yes, mention this before booking so the operator can explain what is realistic within your available time.
- What is included in the price? With GOZOblu, pricing is designed to be transparent, with fuel and port fees included, along with light local snacks and the use of snorkelling equipment.
This makes it easier to understand what you are paying for before the day begins.
Quick Guide: Which Malta Boat Tour Is Right for You?
| If you want… | Consider… |
| A lower-cost way to see the coast | Shared boat tour |
| Privacy | Private charter |
| A flexible itinerary | Private boat tour |
| Plenty of swimming time | A longer or private tour |
| Famous Comino landmarks | A Comino-focused itinerary |
| Comino and Gozo in one day | A longer private charter |
| Photography | A flexible private tour |
| A relaxed family day | Private tour with a flexible pace |
| Quieter swimming locations | A route that can adapt to conditions |
| A mixture of sightseeing and swimming | A personalised itinerary |
FAQs About Booking a Malta Boat Tour
Think about the experience you want rather than simply the destinations advertised. Consider your group size, available time, preferred activities, itinerary flexibility, and whether you want a private or shared experience.
It can be a good option if you want to combine several experiences or have different interests within your group. A private tour gives you more flexibility to adapt the route and pace to your preferences.
Yes, depending on the duration of the trip, route, and sea conditions. A longer private charter gives you more flexibility to combine parts of both islands in one day.
There is no fixed number. A better approach is to consider how much time you want to spend at each location. Trying to visit too many places can result in shorter swimming and sightseeing stops.
Yes. Depending on the operator and conditions, the route may be adjusted because of wind, waves, safety, or the preferences of the group. This flexibility can be particularly valuable on a private charter.
For many travellers, yes. Spending more time swimming, snorkelling or relaxing at a beautiful location can be more enjoyable than rushing between numerous stops.
A private tour can be particularly convenient for families because the pace and route can be adapted around the children. You can also spend more time at locations that suit your family rather than following a fixed group schedule.
Couples who value privacy and flexibility may prefer a private charter. It allows you to enjoy a more personalised pace and potentially spend more time at quieter locations.
With GOZOblu Private Boat Tours, a private charter can be personalised around your group’s interests, available time and the conditions on the day. Your skipper can help determine which route and stops make the most sense.
Choose the Malta Boat Tour That Fits Your Day
The biggest mistake when booking a Malta boat tour isn’t necessarily choosing a bad company. It is choosing a perfectly good tour that doesn’t match the experience you actually want.
Don’t choose an itinerary simply because it lists the most destinations. Don’t assume Blue Lagoon is the only place worth visiting. And don’t overlook the importance of sea conditions, pace and flexibility.
Instead, think about what would make your day on the water memorable.
Maybe that’s swimming in crystal-clear water around Comino. Maybe it’s exploring caves and hidden coves. Perhaps you want to combine boat trips in Gozo with time around Comino, or simply spend a relaxed day away from the busiest parts of the islands.
If flexibility, local knowledge and a more personalised experience are important to you, explore GOZOblu’s private boat tours and start planning a route around your group, rather than trying to fit your group into a fixed itinerary.
Ready to explore Malta, Comino and Gozo by boat? Discover GOZOblu’s private boat tours and plan your day on the water.
| About the Author Captain Francesco Azzopardi Captain Francesco Azzopardi is a licensed skipper and co-founder of GOZOblu, born and raised in Nadur, Gozo. Growing up along the Gozitan coastline, Francesco spent his childhood spearfishing, swimming, and exploring the hidden coves and secluded bays of the Maltese islands with his family. Decades of experience on the water have given him an unrivalled understanding of the local coastline, sea conditions, and lesser-known swimming spots that many visitors never discover. Today, he shares that lifelong passion by creating personalised private boat experiences that showcase the authentic beauty of Gozo, Comino, and Malta. |
