Enjoy a fast 30-minute powerboat run from St Julian’s to Comino and spend the rest of your day at the Blue Lagoon. This trip is ideal if you want to minimise transfer time, maximise swimming and relaxing, and still enjoy a coastal cave visit on the way back to Malta. With fixed return times and clear instructions from the skipper, it is a simple, efficient way to reach one of Malta’s most famous bays.
Your trip starts at the jetty behind the Verdi St. George’s Bay Marina Hotel in St Julian’s, where you check in and board a shared powerboat. After a brief safety overview, you will remain seated while the skipper powers along Malta’s eastern coastline, passing St Paul’s Islands and other shoreline landmarks. The crossing to Comino takes around 30 minutes, making this one of the quickest ways to reach the Blue Lagoon from St Julian’s and giving you more of the day at the island rather than on the boat.
On arrival, guests with a valid government access pass go ashore at the Blue Lagoon to enjoy several hours of free time. You can swim in the clear shallows, hire a sunbed, snorkel over the pale sandy bottom, or explore short walking paths that lead to viewpoints and quieter spots around Comino. If you do not hold the required pass, you will instead be dropped at Santa Marija Bay, a quieter cove with good swimming and a more laid-back feel. The 10:30 departure offers roughly six hours door to door with a long middle section on the island, while the 12:30 departure gives a more compact 4.5-hour outing.
Later in the afternoon, the powerboat returns to pick you up at the meeting point and time given by the skipper before you went ashore. On the way back, the route includes a short detour to the Comino sea caves, where the boat slows to give you a closer look at the rock formations and narrow inlets that larger vessels often skip. After the cave section, the skipper heads back towards St Julian’s at speed, bringing you into the marina area in time to continue your evening plans in town or elsewhere along the coast.
The departure point is in St Julian’s, a popular resort on Malta’s northeast coast. You will leave from the jetty behind the Verdi St. George’s Bay Marina Hotel at 8, Ix-Xatt Ta' San Ġorġ. When you arrive near the entrance to the hotel’s underground car park, look for the black iron gate, walk through it, go down the ramp, turn left, and follow the yellow line painted on the ground until you reach the jetty where the powerboats and jet skis are moored. This marked route makes it straightforward to find the correct starting point even if you are new to the area.
Comino lies between Malta and Gozo and is known for its rocky terrain, lack of cars, and sheltered bays. The Blue Lagoon is the main focus for most visitors, with clear water, a light seabed, and a mix of shallow and deeper sections for swimming and snorkelling. Santa Marija Bay, used as an alternative drop-off if you do not hold a Blue Lagoon pass, offers a quieter setting with easier space to spread out. Both locations give you direct access to the sea and short trails, but you must keep track of the exact meeting place and pick-up time set by the skipper to ensure a smooth return.
This trip is suitable for healthy adults and families with water confidence who are comfortable travelling by fast boat. Because of the higher speed and the way a powerboat handles waves, it is not appropriate for people with heart problems, back or neck conditions, or anyone who is pregnant. Children must be at least three years old and should be able to sit still and follow basic safety instructions while the boat is under way. Passengers must remain seated for the duration of both the outbound and return legs.
The boat is not wheelchair accessible, and strollers are not allowed on board. You will need enough mobility to walk down the ramp to the jetty, step into the boat, and hold yourself steady in your seat during short sections of chop or swell. The experience is also not recommended if you are prone to seasickness, as smaller, faster craft move more in rougher water than large ferries. Luggage and large suitcases are not permitted; bring only a small day bag. To disembark at the Blue Lagoon, you must hold a government-issued access pass for the correct time slots (morning and afternoon for the 10:30 departure, afternoon only for 12:30). Without this, you will be landed at Santa Marija Bay instead.
This powerboat trip focuses on getting you to Comino quickly so you can enjoy the Blue Lagoon without spending hours on a slow cruise. A 30-minute crossing from St Julian’s means you can leave mid-morning and still have a full chunk of the day for swimming, relaxing, and exploring, or opt for the 12:30 departure if you prefer a slightly shorter outing that still includes plenty of time at the lagoon. Between the two options, it is easy to fit the experience around other plans, whether you are based in St Julian’s or travelling in from elsewhere along Malta’s east coast.
By using a smaller, faster boat, the route also includes sea caves around Comino that are harder for larger vessels to access. The inclusions are kept simple so you stay in control of how you use your time ashore, choosing where to swim, where to eat, and how much walking you do. Clear instructions from the skipper on meeting times and locations keep the logistics straightforward, making this a very practical choice if you want a direct, time-efficient trip from St Julian’s to the Blue Lagoon.
This experience is sold as a 6-hour trip for the 10:30 departure and around 4.5 hours for the 12:30 departure. In both cases, the powerboat crossing to Comino takes roughly 30 minutes each way, so most of your time is spent on the island rather than travelling. That makes it a good option if you want a decent chunk of the day at the Blue Lagoon without a long cruise.
Once you arrive, you have free time at the Blue Lagoon (or Santa Marija Bay if you do not have an access pass) until the agreed pick-up time in the afternoon. The 10:30 trip usually gives you a longer window ashore, while the 12:30 option is better if you prefer a shorter but still substantial visit. The skipper will confirm your exact return time before you get off the boat.
The powerboat is designed to move quickly, which is why the crossing from St Julian’s to Comino takes only about 30 minutes. You stay seated for the full ride while the skipper adjusts speed to match the sea conditions. On calm days the motion feels smooth and efficient; on windier days you can expect some bumps and spray as the boat moves through small waves.
Compared with larger ferries or gulet cruises, this feels more direct and compact. If you are comfortable on small boats and do not mind some movement, it is an efficient way to travel. If you dislike speed, are very nervous on the water, or prefer a gentler pace, a larger sightseeing boat may suit you better.
Yes. To set foot on the Blue Lagoon shore area, you must obtain a government-issued access pass in advance from blcomino.com. For the 10:30 departure you need to book both the morning and afternoon time slots; for the 12:30 departure you need the afternoon slot. These passes are limited each day, so it is worth applying well ahead of your trip.
If you do not have a valid pass when you arrive, you will not be allowed to disembark at the Blue Lagoon. Instead, you will be taken to Santa Marija Bay on Comino, where you can still swim and relax but will not be in the main lagoon area. No refund is given if you are moved to Santa Marija Bay because you did not secure a pass, so it is important to decide in advance where you want to be and organise the access accordingly.
The ticket covers your return powerboat transfer from St Julian’s to Comino, your free time on the island, the short visit to the Comino sea caves on the return leg, and all fuel costs. You also have an experienced skipper who looks after navigation and safety and confirms your meeting point and pick-up time.
You will need to cover any food, drinks, sunbeds, umbrellas, or snorkelling gear you choose to rent or buy on Comino. Hotel transfers are not included, so you will need to make your own way to and from the jetty in St Julian’s. Tips for the skipper are optional and at your discretion.
Families are welcome, but there are some important conditions. Children under three years old are not allowed, and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Kids need to be able to sit still during the 30-minute crossings and follow basic safety instructions, as everyone must remain seated while the powerboat is moving.
Once on Comino, families can make the day as relaxed or active as they wish: paddling in the shallows, swimming, or exploring short paths. Parents should be prepared for strong sun and busy shoreline areas at peak times, so hats, sunscreen, and close supervision around the water are essential. Buoyancy aids can be useful for weaker swimmers.
Because of the speed and motion involved, this trip is not suitable for people with heart problems, back or neck issues, or for anyone who is pregnant. The impact of waves on a small, fast boat can aggravate these conditions, and the operator specifically excludes such guests for safety reasons. It is also not recommended if you suffer badly from seasickness, as smaller boats move more in choppy water.
The powerboat is not wheelchair accessible, and strollers are not allowed on board. You will need enough mobility to walk down the ramp to the jetty, step into the boat, and hold yourself steady in your seat during the journey. If you have limited mobility or balance issues, a larger, more stable vessel will generally be more comfortable.
The powerboat departs from the jetty behind the Verdi St. George’s Bay Marina Hotel at 8, Ix-Xatt Ta' San Ġorġ in St Julian’s. When you reach the entrance to the hotel’s underground car park, you will see a black iron gate. Go through the gate, take the ramp down, turn left, and follow the yellow line painted on the ground until you reach the jetty where the boats and jet skis are moored.
You should arrive 15–20 minutes before your scheduled departure time to allow for finding the location, checking in, and boarding without rushing. If you cut it too fine, you risk missing the boat; the powerboat has a fixed timetable and cannot wait, as it must also meet return times on Comino.
If you are bringing valuables such as phones or cameras, consider using a dry bag or waterproof pouch, as there can be spray during the crossing. Anything non-essential is best left at your accommodation, as there is no dedicated storage area or lockers on the powerboat itself.
Treat it like a beach and swimming day. Pack swimwear, a towel, high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat or cap. Lightweight clothing that dries quickly is more comfortable if it gets splashed, and sandals or water shoes are useful for rocky entries into the sea. A refillable bottle of water is especially important in summer.
Cash is handy for sunbed hire, drinks, snacks, or small purchases on Comino, as card payments can be unreliable in places with intermittent mobile signal. If you enjoy snorkelling, bringing your own mask, snorkel, and fins is a good idea so you can use them whenever you like without needing to rent equipment on the island.
This is not a guided tour. The skipper’s role is to handle the boat, give a safety briefing, explain where and when to meet for your return, and point out key information about the timetable. Once you step ashore, your time on Comino is entirely at leisure, so you decide where to swim, where to sit, and how far to walk.
Because there is no guide leading you around the island, it is important to listen carefully to the skipper’s instructions before you get off the boat. Make a note of the meeting time and landmark for your pick-up, and ask any questions at that point. As long as you return to the correct spot at the agreed time, the rest of your day is completely up to you.
The operator monitors weather and sea conditions closely and may adjust the itinerary if needed. This can mean altering speed, changing the exact route, or, in more serious cases, cancelling a departure if conditions are not safe for a powerboat. Safety takes priority, especially as smaller boats feel strong wind and swell more directly than larger vessels.
If the trip is cancelled due to poor weather, sea conditions, or strong winds, you will normally be offered a new date or a full refund if you cannot reschedule. If you decide to cancel your place less than 24 hours before departure for personal reasons, the standard 100% cancellation fee applies, as your seat will already have been reserved.
About the centre
Verdi St. George's Bay Marina
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