St. Paul’s Bay: Blue Lagoon, Comino & Gozo with Bus Tour

The best part of this trip is the mix: one hour at Comino’s Blue Lagoon, two hours in Gozo’s capital, and a coastal cruise through the Maltese islands. You get swimming, sea caves, a bus ride, and a quick taste of Victoria without arranging several separate outings.

I like the smaller Mermaid boat, which can get close to formations such as Santa Maria Caves and Elephant Rock. I also like the value at $35, especially since the fare includes the return bus to Victoria and English commentary from crew members such as Matthew. The main trade-off is time: Gozo gets only two hours, and the Blue Lagoon can be very crowded in summer.

Key points at a glance

• Blue Lagoon stop: One hour for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, walking, or photos from the boat.
• Victoria by direct bus: Two hours in Gozo’s capital, enough for a brisk look at the Cittadella, markets, or a meal.
• Smaller boat access: The Mermaid may enter Crystal Lagoon or Santa Maria Caves when weather and sea conditions permit.
• Strong value: The $35 price covers the cruise, Comino stop, Gozo transfer, bus ride, and cave viewing.
• English-only tour: Live commentary is provided in English, with crew members including Captain Matthew.
• Plan for the water: Bring a hat, towel, swimwear, sunscreen, and cash for food, drinks, or snorkeling equipment.

A five-and-a-half-hour Malta and Gozo sampler

This is not a slow island day. The total duration is 330 minutes, or about five and a half hours, and the schedule keeps moving. You begin at the Bugibba Jetty in St. Paul’s Bay, cruise north along the Maltese coast, stop at Comino, continue to Gozo, take a bus to Victoria, then return by boat.

I see this as a good introduction rather than a full visit to either Comino or Gozo. You get the headline sights and plenty of time on the water, but you will need to choose what matters most at each stop. If you want a relaxed beach day or a detailed visit to Gozo, book a longer, more focused outing instead.

The boat is the red, white, and blue Mermaid at 29 Dawret Il-Gzejjer. Boarding begins 30 minutes before departure, and the boat closes boarding 10 minutes before departure. Take that seriously. The boat cannot wait for late arrivals, and there is no refund for missing the departure.

Cruising north from Bugibba Jetty

The first hour is a sightseeing cruise along Malta’s northern coast. You pass Mellieha and look out across the Maltese archipelago as the boat heads toward Comino.

This part matters because it gives you a view of Malta that roads cannot provide. You see the shoreline from the water, with a changing angle on cliffs, bays, and rocky coastal formations. Live English commentary helps explain the route, although one rating specifically pointed to the sound system and a desire for more commentary. I would treat the narration as a useful extra, not the main reason to book.

Bring a hat and sunscreen even if the day feels mild. The boat offers toilets and Wi-Fi, but the key attraction is the open-air view and the chance to settle into the rhythm of a sea trip before the swimming stop.

One hour at Comino’s Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon is the visual star of the excursion. The water is famously clear, and the stop gives you one hour for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, walking, and photographs.

You can enter the water from the boat, so this is especially convenient if your main aim is a quick swim rather than a long shore visit. Bring your own towel and swimwear. Snorkeling equipment can be rented, but you need a €10 cash security deposit. Food and drinks are not included, though they are available to purchase.

The one-hour limit keeps the full schedule possible, but it also creates pressure. You will not have time to explore Comino at leisure, and the lagoon is crowded during the summer. One useful way to handle the stop is to decide before arrival: swim first, take photos first, or walk first. Trying to do everything can leave you feeling rushed.

The island itself has limited sightseeing in this short window, so the water is the point. I would not book this trip expecting a quiet beach escape. The Blue Lagoon is famous precisely because many people want to see it. At busy times, the beauty of the water remains impressive, but the setting can feel heavily used, and litter or debris may be visible in places.

The operator requires visitors to sign up through the Maltese Government website at blcomino.com for a free entry ticket to Comino. Handle that before the tour so your paperwork does not become a last-minute problem.

From Comino to Mgarr Harbour

After the Blue Lagoon, the boat cruises for about 15 minutes to Mgarr Harbour on Gozo. This is a short leg, but it marks a clear change in the day. You leave the packed swimming stop and switch to a land visit in Gozo’s capital.

At the harbour, you transfer to a bus for Victoria. The bus is included, which makes this trip more useful than a simple Comino cruise. You do not have to arrange a separate taxi or work out local transport during a tight schedule.

The transfer is practical rather than scenic in the way the boat ride is. The goal is to get you directly to Victoria, where you have two hours to make your own plan.

Two hours in Victoria and the Cittadella

Victoria, also called Rabat, is Gozo’s capital. The most important sight is the Cittadella, a fortified historic center above the town. You can spend your time there, browse the Victoria markets, or stop at a local Gozitan restaurant.

Two hours is enough for a focused visit. I would head straight to the Cittadella if this is your first time in Gozo. It gives you the strongest sense of the town’s history and offers a clear goal for your short stay. If you prefer food and shopping, stay closer to the markets and central streets rather than spending the entire break walking uphill and back.

The drawback is simple: two hours disappears quickly. Several ratings praised the chance to see the Cittadella but wished for more time, with one suggestion of another 30 to 45 minutes. You may need to skip a meal, limit shopping, or keep your visit to one main sight.

There is also a practical point about the bus arrangement. The regular return bus is included, while one rating noted that a private bus may be available as an extra option. Do not assume that option is part of the $35 fare. If you want it, ask the operator before departure.

The Victoria stop is best for a first look, not a full Gozo tour. You will not cover the island’s smaller villages, coast, and countryside in this break. Still, the direct bus saves time, and the stop gives the boat trip more substance than a day spent only around the Blue Lagoon.

Returning by boat and entering the caves

After Victoria, the bus takes you back to Mgarr Harbour, where you rejoin the boat. The return route includes more coastal sightseeing, with views of Gozo and Comino from the water.

The cave section is one of the more distinctive parts of the trip. Because the Mermaid is smaller than many excursion boats, it can enter or approach coastal caves when conditions permit. The planned sights include Crystal Lagoon Caves or Santa Maria Caves, followed by formations such as Elephant Rock.

The exact route is not guaranteed. Sea conditions and weather decide whether the boat can enter the caves. You may see the caves from the water or pass by rather than go inside. That limitation is worth understanding before you book, since the cave visit is an added possibility, not a fixed promise.

The listed timing includes about 10 minutes of sightseeing near the caves, then roughly 50 minutes of cruising back to Bugibba. Keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole ride looking through a screen. The coast is one of the main reasons to choose a boat with this route.

What the $35 price really covers

At the stated price of $35 per person, this is a strong-value outing if you want several Malta highlights in one booking. The fare includes the cruise, one hour at Comino, two hours in Gozo, the return bus from Mgarr Harbour to Victoria, toilets, Wi-Fi, and live English commentary.

It also includes cave access when weather allows. Food, drinks, and snorkeling equipment are extra. The €10 security deposit for rented snorkeling gear must be paid in cash, so bring money even if you expect to use a card elsewhere.

The value comes from the transport as much as the sights. A separate boat trip to Comino plus independent transport to Victoria would take more planning, and you would need to manage the timing yourself. Here, the boat and bus connect the main parts of the day.

The low fare also explains the compromises. You have a fixed schedule, a short stop in Gozo, an English-only presentation, and no guarantee that the caves can be entered. If you want private guiding, long meals, or a carefully paced historical tour, this is not the right product. If you want a broad, affordable snapshot, it makes good sense.

The crew, boat, and onboard practicalities

Captain Matthew received repeated praise for explaining the plan clearly and helping people understand the day. That matters on a short excursion, since knowing the meeting times and return arrangements helps you use every minute ashore.

The boat is smaller than average, according to one detailed rating, and that can make the ride feel less packed than a large ferry. It may also explain the access to the caves. Still, the boat can be nearly full, especially in popular months, so do not expect a private charter.

English is the only tour language. Commentary is live, and the captain and deckhand handle the route, timing, and safety of the trip. One rating asked for a better sound system and more information, so your experience of the narration may depend on where you sit and how clearly the announcements carry.

The tour has a 4.6 rating from 142 reviews, with especially strong praise for value, friendly crew, organization, and the Blue Lagoon stop. A few less glowing comments focused on the same issue: Gozo needed more time. That pattern gives you a useful picture of the experience. The service is a major strength, while the schedule is the main limitation.

Who will enjoy this boat and bus trip

I would recommend it to you if you want to see Comino and Gozo in one outing without arranging separate transport. It suits first-time visitors, couples, families with older children who can manage a boat and bus schedule, and anyone who values variety over a slow pace.

It is also a good pick if swimming in clear water is high on your list. You get a real stop at the Blue Lagoon, not just a photo pass, and you can enter the sea from the boat.

I would be more cautious if you have limited mobility. The experience involves boarding a boat, moving between boat and bus, walking in Victoria, and managing timed stops. It is listed as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments.

This is also not ideal for anyone who dislikes crowds, cannot swim, or wants a long historical visit in Gozo. You can still enjoy the coastal views and Victoria, but the tour is built around movement and variety.

What to bring and how to prepare

Pack lightly, but bring the items that make the water stop comfortable:

• Swimwear and a towel
• Sun hat and sunscreen
• Cash for food, drinks, or the snorkeling equipment deposit
• A camera or waterproof phone case
• The required free Comino entry ticket from blcomino.com

Arrive at the jetty at least 30 minutes before departure. Since boarding closes 10 minutes before the scheduled departure, arriving just before the boat leaves is a real risk.

Check the weather forecast, but remember that the captain can change or cancel the route for safety. The cave section is also dependent on sea conditions. Flexible plans matter here, especially if Comino or Gozo is a central part of your holiday.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Malta plans are still shifting, but they do not protect you from arriving late at the jetty.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want maximum variety for $35: a scenic cruise, a proper Blue Lagoon stop, a short look at Victoria, and the chance to see caves from a smaller boat. Captain Matthew and the crew add useful structure, and the included bus removes a transport headache.

Skip it if your priority is a quiet lagoon, a full day in Gozo, or a slow visit to the Cittadella. For everyone else, this is a well-priced sampler. Go in knowing that the schedule is brisk, arrive early, bring cash and swim gear, and choose your Victoria priority before the bus reaches town.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The meeting point is at 29 Dawret Il-Gzejjer, Bugibba Jetty, St. Paul’s Bay. Look for the red, white, and blue Mermaid boat.

How long does the experience last?

The stated duration is 330 minutes, or about five and a half hours.

How much time do I get at the Blue Lagoon?

You get one hour at Comino’s Blue Lagoon for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing, walking, sightseeing, and photos.

How much time do I get in Gozo?

You get two hours in Gozo, including the return bus journey between Mgarr Harbour and Victoria.

Is the bus to Victoria included?

Yes. The return bus from Mgarr Harbour to Victoria is included in the tour.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Snorkeling equipment is available to rent, but it is not included. A €10 security deposit in cash is required.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but they are available to purchase.

Can the boat enter the caves every time?

No. Entering or viewing Crystal Lagoon Caves, Santa Maria Caves, and other formations depends on weather and sea conditions.