Malta Gozo Comino: Full Day Sailing Charter

The best part of this Malta sailing day is the freedom to trade crowded beaches for quiet coves and clear water reached by boat. You cruise between Malta, Gozo, and Comino on a roomy 14-meter sailboat, then stop when the water looks too good to pass up.

I like the generous choice of water gear, especially the kayak and paddle board, which keep a long swim stop from becoming dull. I also like the small-group setup: up to 11 people share the whole boat, with skipper Peter handling the sailing while you use the three cabins, hammock, snorkel gear, and shaded areas at your own pace.

The main caution is the wind. Strong conditions can affect where you stop, even though Peter works to keep the day enjoyable. This is also a full eight hours on the water, so it suits people who want a relaxed boat day, not a quick sightseeing cruise.

Key points at a glance

• Private 14-meter sailboat: Your group has the boat to itself, with room for up to 11 people and three cabins for resting.
• Depart from two useful locations: Choose Marfa Jetty in Malta or Mgarr Harbor on Gozo, depending on your plans.
• Built for swimming: Snorkeling equipment, a kayak, paddle board, and several swim stops are included.
• Bring food for the barbecue: The boat provides the grill, plus water, soft drinks, snacks, and prosecco.
• Peter is the skipper: He speaks English and has been praised for his patience, warm hospitality, and ability to adjust the day to wind conditions.
• Strong value for a private group: At $823 for up to 11 people, the per-person cost drops sharply when the boat is full.

Sailing from Marfa Jetty or Mgarr Harbor

You can begin at Marfa Jetty in Malta or Mgarr Harbor on Gozo. That choice matters more than it may first appear. Use the departure point that fits your accommodation and transport plans, since an otherwise relaxing day can start badly if you spend too long getting to the wrong side of the islands.

Once aboard, the boat gives you a proper base for the day rather than just a seat on a fast sightseeing vessel. The 14-meter sailboat has three cabins, so you can get out of the sun or rest while the boat moves between stops. You also have access to a hammock, which is exactly the sort of simple feature that makes an eight-hour outing feel unhurried.

The boat is private for your party, with space for as many as 11 people. That makes this a different product from a standard group cruise. You can talk, eat, swim, and organize your time without sharing every stop with a large crowd.

The itinerary is not presented as a rigid list of named stops. Instead, Peter takes you around parts of Gozo and Comino, looking for coves, lagoons, caves, and coastal views that work well on the day. Wind and sea conditions help decide the route. One recent booking specifically noted that Peter managed to preserve the swimming experience despite windy weather, a useful sign that he treats the route as flexible rather than forcing a fixed plan.

Gozo and Comino from the water

The coast looks different from a sailboat. From shore, you see a beach or cliff from one angle. On the water, you watch the cliffs rise above you, pass openings in the rock, and see small coves that are difficult or impossible to reach overland.

The sailing portion is not just transport between activities. You get time to look at the soaring cliffs and the changing colors of the sea, then settle into the boat as it heads toward the next stop. If you enjoy photography, the moving view gives you more variety than a single beach visit.

Comino is especially well suited to this kind of day because much of the pleasure lies offshore. The boat can take you close to clear lagoons and small coves, where you have more room to swim and use the water equipment. Exact conditions will vary, and the busiest parts of Comino can still feel busy during the high season, but a private boat gives you more control over when you stop and how long you stay.

Gozo adds a slower coastal feel. You may spend time looking up at cliffs, watching the sea around the boat, or exploring a cove by kayak. The appeal is not a checklist of landmarks. It is the chance to see the islands as a connected stretch of coast, with the boat providing the link.

Swim stops, caves, and marine life

Swimming is one of the main reasons to book this charter. The day includes several opportunities to get into the sea, and the clear water makes it easy to look below the surface with the supplied snorkeling equipment.

The snorkeling is likely to be most enjoyable in calm water and good visibility. You can explore around the boat, inspect the rocky edges of a cove, and look for marine life without needing to arrange separate equipment. Bring your own personal preferences, such as a favorite mask or water shoes, if you have them, but the basic snorkeling gear is included.

The caves add another layer to the stops. You may be able to look into them from the boat or explore nearby water by kayak, depending on the sea conditions and Peter’s judgment. Do not assume every cave will be entered or accessible on every departure. Wind, swell, and safety come first, and the skipper may choose a different cove if conditions change.

The paddle board and kayak are valuable because they let you choose your own pace. You can paddle along the edge of a cove, take turns with children, or simply swim from the boat. One family group of four adults and four children found that the water equipment gave everyone something to do, a good point for parties with mixed ages.

You should still expect the usual practical limits of a boat day. Equipment must be shared among your group, and the most popular items may not be available every minute. The supplied information does not specify how many kayaks or paddle boards are carried, so think of them as included options rather than personal equipment reserved for each person.

A relaxed day aboard a three-cabin sailboat

The boat is designed for more than a short trip around the harbor. The three cabins provide somewhere to rest, and the hammock offers a quieter place to stretch out while the boat is stationary or moving in calm conditions.

That space matters on an eight-hour charter. A day of swimming, paddling, and sun can wear you out, especially if you are traveling with children. You can alternate between the water, the deck, and the cabin instead of feeling that you must stay active from morning to afternoon.

The boat is described as well equipped, with fuel and port fees included. You are not expected to manage the practical sailing details. Peter serves as skipper, watches the conditions, and takes the boat between the day’s stops.

The strongest personal detail attached to this experience is Peter himself. He has been described as welcoming, patient, professional, and attentive to the group. He has also been willing to prepare food on the barbecue, including grilled meat brought by the group. That service is not a formal restaurant meal, so bring food you actually want to cook and confirm any special arrangements before departure.

The boat’s atmosphere should suit a group that enjoys spending time together. You can chat during the cruise, share snacks, swim in turns, or let the children use the paddle board and kayak while adults relax. If you prefer a tightly scheduled sightseeing program with constant commentary, this may feel too loose. The emphasis is on time at sea rather than a long lecture about every coastal feature.

What to bring for the barbecue and swim stops

The charter includes a barbecue, but you bring your own food to grill. This is both a benefit and a planning task. You can choose food your group likes, but you should organize it before reaching the jetty or harbor.

Water, soft drinks, snacks, and prosecco are included. That covers basic refreshments, though the information does not promise a full lunch, special diets, or unlimited supplies for every possible group size. For a full day, I would make sure your food plan is clear before setting out.

Useful things to pack include:

• Food prepared for a simple barbecue
• Swimwear and a change of clothes
• Sun protection
• Towels, if not confirmed with the provider
• Any personal medication or preferred drinks
• A dry bag or small waterproof pouch for valuables

The boat includes snorkeling gear, a paddle board, and a kayak, so you do not need to rent those separately. Still, ask about towel provision and food arrangements when booking. Those details are not specified.

Wind, comfort, and the limits of the route

A private charter gives you flexibility, not control over the sea. Wind may change the route, shorten a stop, or make one cove more suitable than another. That is normal for sailing around Malta and should be part of your expectations.

The encouraging point is that Peter appears to work with the conditions rather than treating them as a problem for the group. A windy day can still include swimming, but the exact spots may change. If you have your heart set on one named lagoon or cave, ask how fixed the route is before you pay.

The boat is large enough to feel comfortable for a private group, but it is still a boat. You will be exposed to sun, motion, and the practical limits of marine facilities. People who are prone to seasickness should plan accordingly, although the supplied details do not state whether motion-sickness medication is available.

The English-language guiding is useful for a mixed international group. Peter handles the sailing and can help organize the stops, but this is not described as a formal multilingual cultural tour. You should choose it for the sea time, swimming, and private setting rather than for an extensive history lesson.

Is $823 good value for a private charter?

The price is $823 for the entire group, up to 11 people, for eight hours. At the maximum capacity, that works out to about $75 per person. For eight people, it is about $103 each, and for four people, about $206 each.

That calculation explains who gets the best value. A full family group or a group of friends can share a private sailboat, skipper, fuel, port fees, drinks, snacks, equipment, and eight hours on the water. Compared with booking separate boat seats and paying extra for kayak, paddle board, or snorkeling rentals, the package can make sense.

For a small party of two or three, the price is harder to justify unless privacy and a full-day charter are your main priorities. You are paying for the boat itself, not only for access to a swimming stop.

The included fuel and port fees remove two costs that can otherwise appear later. The drinks and snacks are helpful, while the barbecue adds value if you were already planning to bring lunch. Prosecco is a nice extra, but it should not be the reason you choose the trip.

The current rating is 4.9 from 15 ratings, with particular praise for the boat, Peter’s hospitality, the water activities, and the relaxed pace. Those strengths match what the package is designed to provide. The one practical reservation is that sea conditions can influence the route, so the value depends partly on your willingness to enjoy the day even if the exact stops change.

Who will enjoy this Malta sailing day?

I would choose this for families, friend groups, and couples who want a private day rather than a standard boat tour. The mix of swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding, kayaking, and resting works well when people in the same group want different levels of activity.

Families should find the flexible format useful. Children can swim or use the paddle board, while adults take turns relaxing. The supplied details show that a group with four adults and four children had room to enjoy the boat and its activities, though children should be supervised around the water and equipment.

It also suits food-loving groups that enjoy bringing their own lunch and making a simple barbecue part of the day. Peter may help with the grilling, but you should still arrive organized.

I would be less likely to choose it for someone who wants a short, cheap introduction to Malta’s coast, a fully narrated history tour, or a fixed schedule of named landmarks. The charter is at its best when you value time, privacy, and the freedom to linger.

Should you book the Island Quest Boat Charters trip?

Book it if your group can share the cost and you want a full day of sea time around Gozo and Comino. The private boat, three cabins, water equipment, barbecue, and flexible route give you more than a basic transfer or sightseeing cruise.

Before booking, check which departure point works best, confirm what food and towels you need to bring, and accept that wind may change the route. If you do that, this is a strong choice for a relaxed Malta day built around swimming and time together.

The best value comes with eight to 11 people. For that size of group, the cost becomes reasonable, and Peter’s hands-on approach adds a personal touch. For a very small party, compare the price with shared cruises before committing.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. That flexibility helps if your Malta plans are still shifting.

FAQ

Where does the sailing charter depart from?

You can depart from Marfa Jetty in Malta or Mgarr Harbor on Gozo. Check the available starting point when arranging your booking.

How long is the boat trip?

The private sailing charter lasts eight hours.

How many people can join the private charter?

The price covers one group of up to 11 people.

What water activities are included?

Snorkeling equipment, a paddle board, and a kayak are included. The route also includes several opportunities for swimming.

Is food included?

The boat includes snacks, water, soft drinks, and prosecco. A barbecue is available, but you bring your own food to grill.

Who is the skipper, and what language is offered?

Peter is the skipper, and the live guiding is offered in English.