The island of Comino is a part of the Maltese Archipelago and is the smallest of the three main islands. The area of Comino is only 3.5 square km. It is situated between Gozo and Malta and can be easily reached by boat from either Cirkewwa in Malta or Mgarr in Gozo. The island and its rugged coastline with caves and cliffs can be seen while crossing the channel on the Gozo ferry.
No cars are allowed on Comino, which has a permanent population of only three residents. The island also has one priest and one policeman who commute from the nearby island of Gozo, to render their services to the local population and tourists visiting in summer. There is also a police station on the island. Currently, the only hotel on Comino is closed for a makeover.
Comino is famous for its Blue Lagoon with stunning crystal clear turquoise water, which is reminiscent of a Caribbean paradise. The Blue Lagoon is protected by the small islet of Cominotto. The lagoon is deep but safe for swimming. The Blue Lagoon is very popular with tourists enjoying water sports, such as swimming, snorkelling and diving. It’s an easy swim to the island of Cominotto. It is also possible to take a boat across the lagoon. The small beach on Cominotto offers sun beds and umbrellas.
The Blue Lagoon is not the only attraction on Comino. The island is blessed with other rocky beaches and pretty coves which are worth visiting including, St. Nicholas Bay and St. Mary’s Bay. One can walk towards these secluded beaches from the Blue Lagoon, or visit them on a boat tour around the island. The boat tours depart frequently from the Blue Lagoon in the summer.
Next to the Blue Lagoon, there is another popular area for swimming, the Crystal Lagoon, named such for its crystal clear waters. Many ferries stop at the Crystal lagoon on the way back from Comino. The island also has some spectacular caves which can be visited from the sea. Some of the caves are very deep, with stalactites and intricate passages. Most boat ferries take their visitors round the caves on the return journey.
Apart from the beach, there is also a small chapel dating back to the 13th century, and Santa Maria Tower which was built in 1618 by the Knights of St John under Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, along with a battery and barracks, in order to offer protection to those crossing between the islands of Malta and Gozo. The Santa Maria Tower was used as a setting for the prison of Chateu d’If in the 2002 film The Count of Monte Cristo starring Jim Caviezel.
Nowadays, the tower belongs to the National Trust of Malta and is open to the public. From the back of the tower one can see a wide view of the North coast of Malta, whereas a vast breathtaking view of Gozo opens up from the front. Comino also appears in some popular movies such as Troy, the already mentioned Count of Monte Cristo and Swept Away.
For both private and shared boat trips around Comino and Gozo in a 44ft/14m sailing yacht from either Gozo or Malta, contact by e-mail for a quote. To avoid the crowds, a private boat tour is recommended.