Friday 16th October 2026
Comino Island
The feet got a bit of a rest today with no planned walk so it was a little lay in and late breakfast.
We had booked a boat tour to circumnavigate the adjoining Comino Island to look at the caves etc and also have swims at Blue Lagoon and Crystal Lagoon.
Walked down to the wharf against a tide of over dressed tourists head up the hill. I don’t think they got the message about summer casual.
Soon down at the end of the wharf and boarding a boat with 20 odd other trippers. Skipper who looked like he was just out of school and a Nepalese seaman were our guides for the day.
Thankfully the strong winds didn’t arrive and it was a pretty smooth sail out other than when skipping over the wake of the car ferries.
It was like Pitt St as we neared the island with numerous boats of all shapes and sizes jockeyed for position to berth and unload those looking to either walk the island or swim at the narrow crowded beach.
We were the only ones to stay on board and moor off Blue Lagoon and snorkel off the back of boat for an hour in Crystal
Cove alive with tiny fish. The water was warm and there was plenty of formations to explore.
Just on crowds 9000 people visit the island each day in the peak season, it was more like 900 today, with that being crowded enough.k
After an hour we returned to collect the others and then start our run around the island. It’s a rocky outcrop with a police station, Greek 14th century church and two permanent residents whose ancestors have maintained the beaches for decades. With desalinated water generator power and no services it would be a stoic existence.
The main accommodation on the island is still unused after 3 years due to a dispute over the level of development and possible environmental impact. It’s a shame as the two premises have beautiful views and exclusive use of the two bays ideal for any water sports.
The captain stuck the nose and tail of boat into the biggest cave of the island which was also being explored by a few jet skiers.
Kept the circumnavigation seeing various rock formations being given names like Elephants Head and The Dog. One thing that did stand out was the Beach Club sitting in the middle of nowhere on a pontoon.
Next cave was The Lover’s Cabe, again accessed by kayakers and jet skiers, with its claim to fame being the set for Count of Monte Christo and Popeye movies.
Pulled up at the Crystal
Lagoon for another swim, again with a mass of boats, many with giant slides. We had to jump off the back of our boat for thrills. Again water was amazingly clear and full of fish, plus a few stingers. The high level of salinity made if easy to float but difficult to dive.
Only a short swim this time and it was back to the pier with the madding crowd catching ferries and little charter boats.
Headed along the pier looking for lunch but with an hours wait for food we wandered back to the veranda bar of the Grand Hotel for a late lunch looking over the bay back to Maltese mainland.
A quiet late afternoon lazing around before heading out for more food and wine then heading home for an early night to ready ourselves for the second last walk down the South West coast.
