The water changes color at least three times before touching the shore. From the deep blue of the open Mediterranean, it shifts to an almost unreal emerald green, then becomes transparent turquoise until it looks like liquid glass over the white sandy bottom and limestone rock. This is the first visual impact with the Blue Lagoon of Comino, a natural inlet that opens between the island of Comino and the small uninhabited islet of Cominotto, in the channel that separates Malta from Gozo.
Comino is an island of just 3.5 square kilometers, administratively part of the municipality of Għajnsielem, on the island of Gozo. Its most extraordinary feature is not just the color of the water, but the almost total absence of permanent inhabitants: only four people reside permanently on the island, all linked to the management of the only hotel present, the Comino Hotel, a facility that has operated for decades as the only accommodation on the island. There are no cars, there is no drivable road network, and the only way to reach Comino is by sea.
How to Reach the Blue Lagoon
The ferries to Comino mainly depart from two points: from the Ċirkewwa dock, in the north of Malta, and from Mġarr, the main port of Gozo. The crossing takes about 25 minutes from Malta and less than 15 minutes from Gozo. There are several ferry companies that operate the service, with frequent trips during the summer months and reduced schedules in winter. The cost of a round-trip ticket typically ranges around 10-15 euros per adult, but it is advisable to check the updated rates directly at the docks or online, as they vary according to the season and the operator.
Once disembarked at the small dock of Comino, the Blue Lagoon is reachable on foot in a few minutes by following a marked path along the rocky coast. The landscape is dominated by low Mediterranean scrub, honey-colored limestone cliffs, and almost total silence, interrupted only by the wind and the sound of the sea. There are no shops, vending machines, or fixed facilities on the beach: bringing water and food is essential.
The ecosystem of the island and the marine caves
Comino is classified as a nature reserve and hosts a flora typical of arid Mediterranean islands, with species of wild thyme, sea fennel, and various endemic plants of the Maltese islands. The waters of the lagoon are protected and underwater visibility can exceed 20 meters on calm sea days, making the site very popular with snorkelers and divers. The seabed is a mosaic of limestone rock, posidonia, and light sand.
In the immediate vicinity of the Blue Lagoon, there are some marine caves accessible by swimming or kayaking, including the so-called Crystal Lagoon and the Santa Maria Caves, a system of cavities in the limestone that filters light creating blue reflections on the internal water. These formations are visible directly from the surface and represent one of the most physically recognizable elements of Comino's coastal landscape.
When to go and what to expect
In the months of July and August, the Blue Lagoon becomes one of the most crowded places in the entire Maltese archipelago: hundreds of private boats and organized trips anchor in the bay, and the small beach fills up completely in the early hours of the morning. Those seeking tranquility should consider a visit in May, June, or September, months when the temperatures are still ideal for swimming and the presence of tourists is significantly lower.
The best time to arrive is in the early morning hours, preferably with the first available ferry. The morning light enhances the colors of the water and allows you to occupy a space on the shore before the arrival of group tours. In the late afternoon, after 4:00 PM, many boats return to Malta and Gozo, and the lagoon regains an almost surreal calm, with the low sun illuminating the limestone walls in a particularly scenic way.
Life on the island and its future
With only four permanent residents, Comino is one of the most extreme examples of human settlement in the European Mediterranean. For decades, the island's economy has revolved around summer beach tourism and the presence of the Comino Hotel, a facility that has gone through periods of closure and renovation in recent years. Outside the tourist season, between October and April, the island returns to a state of almost complete isolation, with the few residents relying on sea supplies from Gozo.
This demographic fragility and the summer tourist pressure have fueled a local debate on the sustainable management of the site. Maltese authorities have at various times discussed measures to limit the number of boats that can anchor simultaneously in the lagoon, precisely to preserve the quality of the waters and the seabed. Visiting Comino out of season, in addition to ensuring a more authentic experience, helps to distribute the tourist flow in a less concentrated and more respectful manner towards an ecosystem that remains, despite its fame, extraordinarily vulnerable.
