Planning On Going To Comino Soon? Here’s Everything You Need To Know
Comino is Malta’s lovelier, tinier sister. It’s snuggled in between Malta and Gozo. Almost nobody lives there, however it’s a popular summer destination amongst both locals and tourists.
Some people opt to go to Comino just for a day, while others go there for a more prolonged and relaxing stay. The lovely island is famous for its natural beauty and clear blue waters.
1. What to pack
Short answer: water.
Definitely take heaps upon heaps of water with you to the island. You will also need to feed yourself at some point. Even though there’s a hotel where you can grab lunch, it’s advisable for you to take fruit or other food which will still be edible after enduring copious amounts of sun and heat.
Sunscreen is also a total life saver you really need to take with you. There’s not much to do on the island except sunbathe, swim and walk in the sun, so the higher SPF you can get, the better.
2. How to get there
Getting to Comino is relatively easy. Regular trips are organised both from Mġarr in Gozo and Ċirkewwa in Malta.
Captain Morgan Cruises offer this service along with visits to the Blue Lagoon if you don’t really fancy stopping on the actual island.
There’s also Ebsons Comino Ferries which provide trips from Marfa or Ċirkewwa hourly to the island.
Hornblower Cruises, on the other hand, offer two options; either get a tour of Comino, the Blue Lagoon and some caves or else get the same bundle with Gozo thrown in.
If you are planning on leaving from Sliema, you can opt for Hera Cruises, who also throw Gozo in the deal for you… along with a Maltese beach for good measure.
3. Where to stay
If you really want to stay in Comino overnight or for a couple of days, you could opt to camp out anywhere on the island.
There’s a campsite on the island overlooking Santa Marija Bay complete with public bathrooms and barbecues. The view is simply amazing and nothing beats sleeping under the stars.
You could also book a stay at The Comino Hotel. Bungalows and rooms are both available at this resort. It comes with swimming pools, tennis courts, restaurant, a fully-equipped gym and even offers water sports like windsurfing and diving. You could also stop for lunch at the hotel if you’re not staying there.
The Comino Hotel doesn’t open between November and March, so do keep that in mind if you’re planning on a particularly late (or is it early?) visit.
4. What to do
Apart from the obvious swimming and snorkelling, there are some other cool stuff you can get immersed in while on Comino.
You can wander around the island, but for the love of God wear good trekking shoes, no flimsy flip flops. If you’re really not into walking but would still love to sight see, you could rent a bike from the only hotel on the island.
As you’re walking around, you can also get the chance to explore the beautiful cliffs and caves found all over the place. Again, if you’re really not into walking, you can get a boat trip around the island and look at these cliffs and caves from the comfort of your boat seat.
Comino’s waters are famous for offering a one-of-a-kind diving experience. There are numerous coves and rich marine life wherever you look, along with coral reefs and beautiful coastlines all over.
The Santa Marija Cave is one of the most popular diving sites in Comino. Although it’s only accessible by sea, almost every diving centre on the Maltese Islands offer excursions to the site.
You can also visit the P31 wreck off the west coast of Comino if you’re planning on diving while there.
5. Things to see
Santa Marija and San Niklaw
There are two main beaches you can visit in Comino; the Santa Marija and San Niklaw Bays. They’re relatively close to each other, but everything in Comino is. Santa Marija is closer to the campsite however, so if you plan on camping, this one is the closest for those early morning dips.
San Niklaw, on the other hand, is where the ferries generally stop, so it would be the first beach you will set foot on. It’s a pretty sandy beach and you can easily access the island’s cliffs from it.
Blue Lagoon
Visiting the Blue Lagoon is a must. It’s one of the most gorgeous swimming spots around the Maltese Islands and is relatively safe for all ages too.
The Blue Lagoon offers a great diving spot for anyone who would like to experience the light blue sea’s ecosystem.
St Mary’s Tower
Back when the Knights were totally a thing, they too fell in love with Comino. So they built St. Mary’s Tower as part of a series of signal towers all over the archipelago. This tower overlooks one of the most dramatic sceneries ever.
St. Mary’s Tower also happens to stand on the edge of a really cool cliff, one which you can totally see the Blue Lagoon from. You can visit this tower and its museum on weekends, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Do you know anyone who really needs a Comino getaway? Tag them in the comments below!
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