Gozo: 1 Hour Kayak plus +Cave Tour + Drop off Blue Lagoon

The best part of this outing is the mix: you paddle along Gozo’s Hondoq Bay coastline, enter Comino’s Santa Maria Caves by boat, then spend your time at the Blue Lagoon instead of being rushed through a fixed sightseeing loop. I especially like the small-group approach and the chance to see the water from a kayak, a cave boat, and a fast speedboat.

I also like the price. At $41, you get the kayak equipment, guide, water, cave boat, and transport to and from Comino. The main catch is that the Blue Lagoon can be very busy, and your day may last far longer than the advertised three hours if you stay until the final boat at 6pm.

Key points at a glance

• Paddle Hondoq Bay for one hour: You follow a guide along the Gozo coast and stop briefly at a small beach.
• Enter Santa Maria Caves by boat: The 20-minute cave ride includes the spot used for the 2003 film The Count of Monte Cristo.
• Stay at the Blue Lagoon on your own schedule: You can swim, snorkel, walk, or simply sit by the water until your arranged pickup.
• Expect a wet speedboat ride: The fast transfer back to Gozo can splash you, so keep a change of clothes handy.
• Book the Comino time slot first: Since May 1, 2025, you need a free booking confirmation from blcomino.com before boarding.
• Best for active visitors who swim: The operator excludes non-swimmers, people with low fitness, and anyone prone to seasickness.

Why the three-part format works

Many water outings around Malta force you to choose between kayaking and a boat trip. This one gives you both, then adds several hours at Comino’s Blue Lagoon. That makes the $41 price particularly fair if you want a full water day without arranging separate transport.

The activities also vary in pace. The kayak section is quiet and hands-on. The cave visit is short and scenic. The Blue Lagoon gives you the most freedom, with no fixed guided program once you are dropped off.

I would not treat the advertised three hours as the full length of your day. The scheduled start is 10:30am, kayaking runs from about 11am to noon, and the boat leaves Hondoq Bay around 12:45pm. After the cave ride, you can remain at the Blue Lagoon until the pickup time you arrange, with the final boat from Comino to Gozo at 6pm.

That flexibility is useful, but it requires planning. If you want only a short outing, confirm your return time carefully. If you want a relaxed afternoon of swimming and snorkeling, this is one of the better features of the experience.

Meeting at Hondoq Bay

You meet at the Hondoq Bay jetty in Qala, Gozo, under a large yellow umbrella. The meeting point is listed by the location code 28HF+85H. Arrive 20 minutes before the 10:30am start, with your voucher ready to show.

The staff explains the plan, takes you through a disclaimer, and lets you place belongings in a shared lockable area on land. This is useful, but it is not a personal locker. Keep valuables to a minimum, and do not treat the storage space as a fully secure luggage service.

Hondoq Bay has public restrooms, which makes the short break between activities easier. You should arrive already wearing beach clothing, since the day moves quickly from shore to kayak to boat.

Bring:

• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• A towel
• A change of clothes
• Beachwear
• Water-friendly footwear if you have it

A dry bag is not included. Large bags and oversize luggage are not allowed, so pack light. One bottle of water is provided, but bring extra water if you expect to stay at Comino for several hours.

Kayaking along Hondoq Bay from 11am to noon

The first active section is a one-hour kayak paddle along the Hondoq Bay coastline. The guide gives you basic paddling instructions, then leads the group past the coastal sights and small coves.

This is a good length for a first kayak outing. You get enough time to learn the rhythm of the paddle without committing to a half-day expedition. The stop at a small beach breaks up the effort and gives you a chance to look around before paddling back toward Hondoq Bay.

The experience is more about coastal views and being on the water than about athletic performance. Still, you need a reasonable level of fitness. The operator does not accept non-swimmers, people with back problems, pregnant women, people prone to seasickness, or anyone over 243 pounds, or 110 kilograms. Children under three and people over 70 are also excluded.

One family of four adults and four children, with children aged five to nine, found the kayaking enjoyable. That suggests the activity can work for families with older young children, but conditions, paddling ability, and comfort in open water still matter.

You wear a life vest and receive a paddle. The equipment is included, and the guide stays with the group. The small-group format is important here because it allows clearer instruction and keeps the outing from feeling like a large procession of kayaks.

The 35-minute break at Hondoq Bay

After kayaking, you have about 30 to 35 minutes before the boat leaves. Use this pause for the restroom, a snack, a drink, or a quick change of clothes.

Lunch is not included, and this is not a long meal break. Pack something simple if you know you will be hungry. You will have more time to eat later at Comino, but the Blue Lagoon portion is primarily for swimming and sightseeing rather than a hosted lunch stop.

This pause also gives you a useful chance to assess the weather. The operator can alter or cancel the outing if conditions are unsuitable, and the boat crossing later in the day may feel lively in rough water.

Santa Maria Caves by boat

The boat departs Hondoq Bay at about 12:45pm for Santa Maria Caves on Comino. The cave visit lasts around 20 minutes, and the boat enters the caves rather than viewing them only from outside.

That short ride adds a memorable change of scenery. After paddling close to Gozo’s shore, you are suddenly looking at Comino’s rocky coast from a motorboat. The caves were used during filming of the 2003 movie The Count of Monte Cristo, a small piece of film history that adds context to the stop.

Do not expect a long underground tour or a detailed historical presentation. The cave section is a compact sightseeing ride. Its value comes from the boat entering the openings and giving you a closer look at the rock formations and water inside.

The speedboat ride is part of the fun, but it can also be wet. One family described the boat as very fast and warned that you will get splashed. Keep your phone protected, leave delicate items in the storage area, and do not put on your dry clothes too early.

Blue Lagoon: beautiful water, limited quiet

After Santa Maria Caves, the boat drops you at the Blue Lagoon. This is the longest part of the experience, and you can spend several hours swimming, snorkeling, walking, or enjoying the views before your arranged pickup.

The water is the star here. The lagoon is known for its clear turquoise color, and the setting is made for a swim. If you bring a mask and snorkel, you can explore from the shore or shallow water. Snorkeling equipment is not listed as included, so bring your own if you have it or plan around that limitation.

The main drawback is crowding. Even in October, the Blue Lagoon can be very busy. The water may look wonderfully clear, but the shore and access points can feel crowded, especially during the middle of the day.

This is where the drop-off arrangement helps. You are not forced to leave after a quick photo stop. You can swim and snorkel at your own pace, then meet the boat at the agreed pickup time. Be precise about that time. The final boat from Blue Lagoon to Gozo is at 6pm, so you should not treat the return as open-ended.

Because you have free time rather than a guided program, you need to manage your own belongings, sun exposure, food, and meeting point. I would keep valuables out of sight, use plenty of sunscreen, and avoid spending the whole afternoon in the water without a break.

Returning by speedboat to Gozo

The return includes a short speedboat ride, listed as about five minutes, followed by arrival back at Hondoq Bay. The boat transfer is efficient, but the busy Blue Lagoon can make boarding and pickup confusing.

This is the one part of the day where you should expect a little patience. Comino has heavy boat traffic, and boarding or unloading may take longer while the new entry system is being managed. Keep your group together and confirm the pickup instructions before you leave the boat.

The return to Hondoq Bay completes the activity. From there, you arrange your own way back to your accommodation, since hotel transportation is not included.

The new Comino entry rule

From May 1, 2025, visitors to Comino and the Blue Lagoon must reserve a time slot through the official website, blcomino.com. The booking is currently free for the 2025 season, but you still need confirmation before the boat can take you to the lagoon.

The available time periods are:

• 8:00am to 1:30pm
• 1:31pm to 5:30pm
• 5:31pm to 10:00pm

For this activity, the middle slot usually fits the schedule best because the boat reaches Comino after the morning kayak and cave ride. Check the official site before your outing, choose the appropriate time period, and show the confirmation when you arrive. The operator then issues the boat boarding pass.

This extra step is easy to overlook. Without a valid booking confirmation, the boat cannot take you to the Blue Lagoon. Allow extra time for boarding and expect delays as the system continues to be used.

What the $41 price really includes

At $41 per person, this is a strong value for an active half-day or full-day water outing. You receive:

• One hour of guided kayaking
• Kayak paddle and life vest
• A bottle of water
• Use of a shared lockable storage area
• Boat transport to Santa Maria Caves
• The cave visit
• Boat drop-off and pickup at the Blue Lagoon

You still need to pay for your own food and arrange transportation to Hondoq Bay. Dry bags and snorkeling equipment are not included. If you already have beach gear and can reach the meeting point without a costly transfer, the price makes sense.

The value depends on how long you stay at Comino. If you leave soon after the cave tour, you are mainly paying for the kayak and boat combination. If you stay through the afternoon, you get a full water day for a modest price.

The operator has a 4.9 rating from 67 reviews, and transport received a perfect score from 91 percent of respondents. The strongest pattern is clear: the guides are friendly and accommodating, the kayaking is enjoyable, and the speedboat adds genuine excitement. Service also includes free water, a small but useful touch on a hot day.

Who should book this outing

I would recommend it to confident swimmers, active families with children old enough to manage the water, couples, and small groups who want several different experiences in one booking.

It suits you especially well if:

• You want kayaking without giving up a beach afternoon
• You enjoy fast boat rides and do not mind getting splashed
• You want flexible time at the Blue Lagoon
• You are comfortable carrying only a small beach bag
• You can reach Hondoq Bay independently
• You prefer a small group to a large boat crowd

I would choose something else if you dislike open water, get seasick easily, need a calm and quiet beach, or want a fully guided program from start to finish. The Blue Lagoon is not a peaceful retreat at peak times, and the kayak requires more effort than a standard sightseeing cruise.

The experience is also weather-dependent. Conditions can alter the plan, and the outing may be canceled if the group is too small. Keep that in mind when planning it as the only major activity of your day.

Should you book it?

Book this outing if you want a practical mix of kayaking, caves, and swimming for $41. The short kayak route is approachable, the cave boat adds variety, and the Blue Lagoon drop-off gives you far more freedom than a quick photo stop.

Skip it if you want solitude, guaranteed calm seas, or door-to-door transport. The key to having a good day is simple: reserve the Comino time slot, arrive early at the yellow umbrella, bring light beach gear, protect your valuables, and confirm your pickup time before swimming.

FAQ

Where does the activity begin?

It begins at the Hondoq Bay jetty in Qala, Gozo, under a large yellow umbrella. The listed location code is 28HF+85H.

What time should I arrive?

You should arrive 20 minutes before the 10:30am start.

How long is the kayaking section?

The guided kayak paddle lasts one hour, generally from 11am until noon.

Is the Blue Lagoon visit guided?

No. After you are dropped at the Blue Lagoon, you have free time for swimming, snorkeling, walking, sightseeing, or relaxing.

Do I need a Comino booking?

Yes. Since May 1, 2025, you must reserve a time slot through blcomino.com and show a valid confirmation before boarding the boat to the Blue Lagoon. The booking is currently free for the 2025 season.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a life vest, paddle, one bottle of water, kayaking, the Santa Maria Caves boat visit, and boat transport to and from the Blue Lagoon. You can also use a shared lockable storage area on land at your own risk.

Who should not take this activity?

It is not suitable for children under three, pregnant women, people with back problems, non-swimmers, people over 243 pounds or 110 kilograms, people prone to seasickness, people with low fitness, or people over 70.