Island Quest Half Day Charter: 4-Hour Private Sail Around Comino and Gozo

Island Quest Boat Charters

Malta Gozo Comino: Half Day Sailing Charter

★ 5.0 (29) · from $533

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Prices and timetables checked 2026-10-17. I earn a commission on bookings made through the links on this page.

The Island Quest half day charter is a private 4-hour sail on a three-cabin sailboat from Marfa Jetty on Malta or Mġarr Harbour on Gozo, with swim stops along the coast of Comino and Gozo. The listing price is $533 per group of up to 11, about €474, and it already includes skipper, fuel and port fees.

The detail that changes the decision is the all-in price. At 11 guests it works out at about $48 each, close to a shared cruise, and with 4 guests it is about $133 each. Prosecco, soft drinks, snacks and a barbecue grill are included, but you bring the food you want to grill.

I would book the Island Quest half day charter for a birthday or a group of friends who want a boat to themselves, and I would aim the 4 hours at sunset. My guide to sailing in Malta and the boat tours hub show the alternatives.

What is this Island Quest sail and what do you do on board?

You charter a whole sailboat for 4 hours and the skipper sails you along the north-west coast, stopping where the group wants to swim. The listing describes cliffs, lagoons, coves and caves reachable only by boat, and a long list of toys to use at anchor.

• Swim stops: several, with time to snorkel and look for marine life; ask for the Blue Lagoon on Google Maps or the Crystal Lagoon on Google Maps if you have a favourite.
• Paddleboard: a stand-up board is included.
• Barbecue: bring the meat or vegetables; the crew helped grill according to August reviewers.
• Relax: cabin space and a hammock for the rocking of the boat.

The waters are around Comino, which covers about 3.5 km² and sits inside a Natura 2000 marine area (Wikipedia). The listing does not say which lagoons are visited, so ask the skipper about the Blue Lagoon.

Where does the sailing charter leave from?

The two ports sit on different islands, so the choice changes your journey to the boat more than the sail itself. The listing does not give sailing times from either port, so ask the skipper when you confirm.

It leaves from Marfa Jetty on Malta's north coast or Mġarr Harbour on Gozo, and the operator decides which one based on where you stay. You get the final point after booking, so I give both pins.

1. Check the port with the operator once you have booked: Marfa Jetty on Google Maps or Mġarr Harbour on Google Maps.
2. Arrive early with your food for the barbecue.
3. Tell the skipper about children, non-swimmers and the stops you want.

What does this half-day sail cost per person?

The price is for the boat, so the cost per person depends on group size: about $48 each at 11 guests and $133 each at 4. The listing says all taxes and fees are included.

For comparison, the shared Comino cruise sells at $34 per person for a 7-hour day with other guests.

How long is the sail and when does it go?

It lasts 4 hours and the start times appear after you choose a date. Reviewers describe a morning sail with coffee and a sunset sail with a barbecue, so the operator runs both.

Sunset sets the best start time: a 4-hour sail that ends at sunset in October leaves around 2:30 pm, because sunset is 6:28 PM.

What is on board and what is included?

The charter includes the skipper, fuel, port fees, water, soft drinks, snacks and prosecco, plus snorkel gear and a paddleboard. Food for the barbecue is yours to bring.

The prosecco line means guests must be adults to drink it; the listing states no age limit, so ask about children.

How does the Island Quest half day charter compare with other Malta boats?

This is the half-day version of a pair; the operator also sells a 7-hour trip. Both are private and both include fuel and skipper, unlike the cheaper motorboat charters.

Is the Island Quest half day charter worth it versus a motorboat?

It is worth it for a group of six or more who want a sailing boat, a barbecue and no extras to pay, because the price is fixed. A motorboat is cheaper and faster to the lagoons, but it offers no cabin and no sails.

• Choose the sailboat for groups of 6 to 11, birthdays and sunset sails.
• Choose a motorboat for a couple or for a short stop at the Blue Lagoon (see snorkelling tours in Malta).
• Check the pass: landing at the Blue Lagoon needs a free pass since 1 May 2025 (Malta Tourism Authority); the page is silent on swimming from a boat.

4,022,310 tourists arrived in Malta in 2025, 12.9% more than in 2024, so summer boats sell out.

When is the best time to book?

Late May to early October gives the calmest swimming and the warmest water; the sea off Malta is 24.5°C today. A sailboat feels wind more than a motorboat, so winter is windier and cooler.

Upcoming public holidays in Malta, from the Nager.Date API: 8 Dec (Feast of the Immaculate Conception), 13 Dec (Republic Day), 25 Dec (Christmas Day).

What do passengers say?

The skipper, Peter, appears in nearly every review I could read, and all ten readable reviews are five-star, so the sample is positive-only.

• Skipper - patient with children and groups.
• Pace - no rush, everything at the group's own speed.
• Food - guests grill their own meat; the crew helps.
• Exclusivity - one reviewer saw many full tourist boats and valued the private one.

What should you pack for a 4-hour sail?

Pack for sun and spray first, then for the barbecue. A sailboat gives less shade than a canopy motorboat, and the sea can be breezy even in July.

• Sun cover: hat, sunglasses and high-factor sunscreen, since the deck is open.
• Swim kit: swimwear, a towel and water shoes for the rocky entries.
• Food: meat, vegetables and bread for the grill, plus a cool bag.
• Layers: a light jacket for the sunset sail, when the air cools after 8:20 PM in July.

Who should skip it?

Skip it if you travel alone or as a couple on a budget, or if you get seasick, because a sailboat heels. The listing does not state accessibility or an age limit.

How do you book this Island Quest sail?

1. Choose a date and time; aim for a sunset slot.
2. Enter the group size; the price is for the boat.
3. Confirm the port (Marfa Jetty or Mġarr) with the operator.
4. Cancel by 24 hours before for a full refund.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 842398 (price, includes, meeting point, reviews, checked 2026-10-17); NSO Malta, inbound tourism 2025; Malta Tourism Authority; Transport Malta; Open-Meteo climate and marine data; Nager.Date holidays; Frankfurter exchange rate; sunrise-sunset.org.