A trip to the archipelago of Malta: The Island of Comino
St. Mary’s Tower, Comino, Malta (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/13 s)
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If you have decided to see this amazing country, good on you. But Malta isn’t just the main island; there are two smaller islands that you should explore on your trip. The islands of Gozo and Comino are easily reached by ferry from the Ċirekewwa Port on the main island.
My trip in Malta was nearly a week, most of which I spent on the main island, whereas I spent 1 day each in Gozo and Comino. One solid day is good enough to be able to enjoy each island’s offerings. This post will focus on what you should consider seeing on the Maltese island of Comino. A Google Map of all the places I will talk about can be found at the end of this post.
If you decided to stay in the capital city of Valletta like me, getting to Cirekewwa Port (en route to Gozo), couldn’t be any easier. I picked up a 12 trip bus pass (€15) from a tourist shop and took bus 41/42 from Valletta to Cirekewwa. The bus ride takes 60-80 minutes, depending on the traffic. From there, you simply follow the signs to the Gozo ferry. It is THAT easy.
You can check the ferry times for Comino here. You will note that ferries only go during the daytime, with the earliest leaving Cirekewwa at 9:10am and the last ferry leaving Comino at 4pm. To maximize your time there, try planning on taking the earlier ferry to and the latest ferry from Comino.
Check out my drone video of Comino, Malta below!
If you have made it to the ferry, you will most likely see that the Blue Lagoon is the main reason why people decide to head to Comino. Who can blame them? The Blue lagoon is a strip of area just a few mins walk from the Crystal Lagoon, where the boat drops you off and has the most pristine waters in Malta.
You can see all my Malta related blog posts below:
Valletta (A Tour through Valletta, the Capital City of Malta)
Mdina (A Guide to the City of Mdina in Malta)
The Island of Malta (A trip to the archipelago of Malta: The Main Island)
The Island of Gozo (A trip to the archipelago of Malta: The Island of Gozo)
The Island of Comino (A trip to the archipelago of Malta: The Island of Comino)
Summary (A Guide to Malta: Valletta, Mdina, Gozo, Comino, and Malta)
Blue Lagoon, Comino, Malta (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/13 s)
You will know you have arrived when you arrive to a jagged, rocky cliff side with patches of sandy areas, directly across from the smaller island of Cominotto. You can swim in the area between the islands and even step foot on Cominotto if you fancy a small swim/hike.
Because of the popularity of the Blue Lagoon, I highly suggest going there first to get a good spot before more people arrive at the island. Then after you have got your fix, head on over to some of the other points of interest on Comino. I would also recommend bringing some food of your own but there are some vendors selling food and drink.
Crystal Lagoon, Comino, Malta (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/13 s)
I unfortunately made the mistake of heading to the St. Mary's Tower first after getting off the boat and then struggled to find a great place at the Blue Lagoon to chill. This is a tower you cannot miss on your boat ride in. It is similar to the ones on the main island like the Red Tower and St. Thomas Tower and it is in great condition. This historic fortified stone watchtower was built in 1618 and is the the fifth of six Wignacourt towers (A series of watch towers built by the order of St. John between 1610 and 1620).
St. Mary’s Tower, Comino, Malta (ISO 100, 24 mm, f/4, 1/2000 s)
After your short hike there (around 10-15 minutes from the Blue Lagoon), you’ll find that it has the best panoramic view of the main island. Just on the coastline to the south is Lantern Point, marked by a tiny little lighthouse if you will. This area is a well-known dive size for those who are capable.
St. Mary’s Tower, Comino, Malta (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/25 s)
Also near here is the P31 Wreck. This ship used to be a minesweeper of Kondor I-class, sold to Malta in 1992 after being built in East Germany decades before. The ship was decommissioned in 2009 and deliberately sunk to serve as a dive site. Unfortunately, it sits too deep in the water for me to get any photos of it by drone. Guess I will have to dive next time!
Lantern Point and St. Mary’s Tower, Comino, Malta (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/13 s)
A short hike further to the East on Comino will bring you to the Il-Batterija ta' Santa Marija, or St. Mary’s Battery, also known as Comino Battery. This artillery battery was built by the Order of Saint John in 1716 as a coastal fortification to protect the South Comino Channel.
The shape of this battery is also very similar to the Mistra Battery by the Selmun Palace on the main island. This specific design is not by accident as it was constructed to be most effective in repelling attacks.
The Santa Maria Caves are situated on the north side of Comino and is best enjoyed by diving. Here you will find dozens of interlinked caves that can be explored by divers of all expertise.
Small Protip: The Santa Maria Bay isn’t too far away from the Blue Lagoon but also boasts a nice beach area which may be much less crowded and therefore more enjoyable. Your mileage may vary.
