Gozo: 1 Hour Kayak plus +Cave Tour + Drop off Blue Lagoon

Comino’s Blue Lagoon is the big draw, but this outing earns its keep by adding a kayak trip along Gozo’s Hondoq Bay and a boat ride inside Santa Maria Caves. You get active time, cave scenery, and a long swim stop without arranging three separate outings.

I like the small-group setup and the simple plan: paddle from 11am to noon, take a break, then board the boat around 12:45pm. I also like that you can stay at the Blue Lagoon for several hours instead of being rushed back on a fixed sightseeing loop. The main catch is that the lagoon can be crowded, and the advertised three-hour duration does not match the longer schedule, which may run until the 6pm return boat.

Key points at a glance

• Kayak Hondoq Bay for one hour: Follow a guide along Gozo’s coast, with a short stop at a small beach.
• Enter Santa Maria Caves by boat: The 20-minute cave ride includes the spot used for the 2003 film The Count of Monte Cristo.
• Choose your own Blue Lagoon pace: Swim, snorkel, walk, or simply sit by the water before your arranged pickup.
• Expect a busy lagoon: The water is beautiful, but the Blue Lagoon may feel crowded even outside the peak summer months.
• Bring your own dry bag: A lockable shared area is provided, but dry bags, lunch, and hotel transport cost extra or are not included.
• Book the Comino time slot first: From May 1, 2025, you need a free reservation through blcomino.com before boarding.

Three coastal experiences in one outing

This is a practical choice if you want more than a standard speedboat ride. The morning begins at Hondoq Bay on Gozo, where you spend an hour on the water in a kayak or canoe. After a short rest, a boat takes you around Comino and into Santa Maria Caves, then leaves you at the Blue Lagoon for several hours.

That mix matters. Kayaking gives you a slower view of the coast, while the speedboat covers more water and gets you into the caves. The Blue Lagoon stop then gives you time to set your own rhythm. You can swim and snorkel, take a walk, or do very little at all.

The activity is listed as three hours, but the actual schedule needs closer attention. You meet at 10:30am, kayak from about 11am to noon, rest for roughly 30 minutes, and leave Hondoq Bay around 12:45pm. The Blue Lagoon boat returns to Gozo by 6pm, so this is really a half-day outing and may occupy much of your afternoon.

Starting at Hondoq Bay in Qala

You meet the team at the Hondoq Bay jetty, under a large yellow umbrella. The meeting location is listed as 28HF+85H, and you should arrive 20 minutes before the 10:30am start. Show your voucher when you arrive.

The staff explain the plan, point out where you will go, and ask you to sign a disclaimer. You receive a life vest, paddle, and bottle of water. Personal items can go into a lockable area on land, but it is shared and used at your own risk.

That last point is important. You will not have a dedicated secure locker, and dry bags are not supplied. Bring only what you need on the water. A small waterproof pouch for a phone or room key is a sensible addition, but the supplied details do not promise that personal items can be taken safely inside the kayaks.

Hondoq Bay is a useful starting point because the first part of the outing stays close to shore. The guide gives paddling instructions before you set out, so you do not need previous kayak experience. Still, you should be comfortable moving a paddle for an hour and getting in and out of a kayak.

Paddling the Hondoq Bay coastline

The kayak portion runs from about 11am to noon. You follow the guide along the Hondoq Bay coast, looking into small coastal features and stopping briefly at a small beach before returning to the bay.

This is the most active part of the day, but it is not presented as a demanding expedition. The appeal is the change of pace. From a kayak, you sit close to the water and move slowly enough to notice the coast. The guide can point out places that are easy to miss from a faster boat.

The kayaking has also received some of the strongest praise attached to this outing. It is especially appealing if you want a hands-on activity rather than sitting aboard a boat all day. One group of four adults and four children, ages five to nine, found the kayaking enjoyable, but the official restrictions still exclude children under three and people with low fitness, back problems, or limited swimming ability.

The sea conditions control how pleasant this section feels. The trip operates only when weather permits, and the route may change if conditions shift. If you are prone to seasickness, this is not the best choice, since the day includes both kayaking and a fast boat ride.

The 30-minute pause at Hondoq Bay

After kayaking, you have about half an hour to do as you please at Hondoq Bay. Public restrooms are available, which makes this a useful pause before the boat trip.

Use this time to change clothes, apply sunscreen, refill your water, or have a snack. Lunch is not included, so you should bring food if you expect to stay out until the late afternoon. The break is short, and the next boat is scheduled around 12:45pm, so do not wander far from the jetty.

This pause also gives you a chance to decide how much energy you want to spend at the Blue Lagoon. If you paddle hard in the morning, save some strength for the swim and the ride back. The point of the schedule is variety, not maximum exertion.

Entering Santa Maria Caves by boat

The boat leaves Hondoq Bay at about 12:45pm and heads toward Comino. The cave visit takes around 20 minutes, with the boat entering Santa Maria Caves rather than simply passing offshore.

That is a nice contrast with the open-water sections. The boat lets you see the coast from a faster, lower angle, while the cave ride brings you close to the rock walls. Santa Maria Caves also has a film connection: scenes for the 2003 movie The Count of Monte Cristo were filmed there.

Keep your expectations sensible. This is a short cave tour, not a long guided visit on foot. You remain with the boat, and the entire stop lasts about 20 minutes. Its value comes from fitting a memorable coastal feature into the transfer to Comino without requiring a separate ticket or extra excursion.

The boat ride can be lively. A speedboat review described a fast trip with plenty of splashing, so wear beach clothes and protect anything that cannot get wet. Sunglasses can be useful, but hold on to them in rougher conditions.

Blue Lagoon time on Comino

After the caves, the boat drops you at the Blue Lagoon. This is the centerpiece of the day, with clear turquoise water suited to swimming and snorkeling. You can also walk around, enjoy the views, or take a self-guided look at the area.

The flexible return arrangement is one of the best features here. You are not tied to a short 30-minute photo stop. The operator arranges a pickup time, and the last boat from the Blue Lagoon to Gozo is at 6pm.

That flexibility comes with a duty: confirm your pickup time clearly before leaving the boat. The Blue Lagoon can be confusing when several boats are loading and unloading at once. One account described the pickup as a little unclear because Comino was busy, so keep track of the meeting point and stay aware of the agreed departure time.

The water can be wonderful for a swim, but the setting is not quiet. The Blue Lagoon is a major stop, and it may be crowded even in October. If you want the most peaceful experience possible, this outing may disappoint. If you want easy access to bright water, swimming space, and a long break, it works well.

From May 1, 2025, you must reserve a Comino visit time slot through blcomino.com. The available periods are 8am to 1:30pm, 1:31pm to 5:30pm, and 5:31pm to 10pm. The booking is currently free for the 2025 season, but you need valid confirmation before the operator can take you to the Blue Lagoon. Show the confirmation at the meeting point and the staff will issue a boarding pass.

Your schedule fits the middle time period, but check the current rules before you go. Delays may occur during boarding and unloading as this system is put into practice.

What the $41 price really covers

At $41 per person, this is good value if you plan to use all three parts of the outing. A separate kayak session, a cave boat ride, and transport to and from the Blue Lagoon could easily require more planning and separate payments. Here, the basic equipment and return boat service are bundled into one morning-to-afternoon plan.

You receive:

• Life vest
• Paddle
• Bottle of water
• Use of a shared lockable storage area
• Guided kayak outing
• Boat trip to Santa Maria Caves
• Drop-off and later pickup at the Blue Lagoon

You do not receive hotel transportation, lunch, or a dry bag. Getting to Hondoq Bay is your responsibility, so factor in the cost and time of reaching Qala, Gozo. The price is strongest for people already staying on Gozo or arranging their own way to the bay.

The value drops if you only want a quick Blue Lagoon visit. You still spend time checking in, kayaking, waiting through the break, and taking the cave boat. For a simple swim, a direct Comino transfer may suit you better. For a varied day with active and relaxed sections, $41 is a fair price.

Who should book this outing

This suits active adults, families with older children, and small groups that want water time without committing to a full-day kayak trip. It is also useful for anyone who wants to combine Gozo and Comino in one plan.

The experience is not suitable for children under three, pregnant women, people with back problems, non-swimmers, people over 243 pounds or 110 kilograms, people with low fitness, people over 70, or anyone prone to seasickness. These limits are worth taking seriously because you will paddle, ride a speedboat, and swim in open water.

A group trip can work well here. The operator describes a small-group format, and a group of 10 received a guided canoe trip, a Comino boat ride, Blue Lagoon drop-off, and later pickup. The smaller setting should make the instructions easier to follow, though the exact group size is not specified.

English is the listed language. Guide names are not provided, so do not book this expecting a named instructor or a particular guide.

What to pack for a wet, sunny day

Wear swimwear from the start, since the boat can splash and the Blue Lagoon is built around getting into the water. Pack a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a change of clothes.

Bring lunch or a snack because food is not included. Keep luggage small. Oversize luggage, large bags, and smoking are not allowed.

A dry bag is not supplied, so bring one if you want to carry a phone, wallet, or camera near the water. Use the shared lockable space carefully and avoid leaving valuables you do not need.

Weather, timing, and practical limits

The outing depends on suitable weather. The route can change, and the trip may be cancelled if the group is not large enough. You should keep some flexibility in your Gozo plans rather than scheduling an important connection immediately afterward.

The timing is the biggest practical issue. The listing describes the activity as three hours, yet the plan includes a four-hour Blue Lagoon visit and a return boat as late as 6pm. Treat the detailed schedule as the useful guide: arrive before 10:30am and plan for a long day that may finish in the evening.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Malta plans are still moving, but they do not remove the need to check weather and Comino entry rules before you set out.

Should you book Joyride Watersports Gozo?

Book it if you want three different water experiences in one outing: guided kayaking at Hondoq Bay, a short cave ride at Comino, and flexible time at the Blue Lagoon. The $41 price is reasonable for that combination, especially if you are already on Gozo and do not need hotel transport.

Think twice if you dislike crowds, get seasick, need a quiet beach, or only want a quick swim. The Blue Lagoon may be packed, the speedboat can be wet and fast, and the return pickup needs attention. For an active, good-value day that mixes scenery with swimming, this is a sensible choice, provided you reserve your Comino time slot and accept the longer schedule.

FAQ

Where does the activity start?

Meet at the Hondoq Bay jetty in Qala, Gozo, under the large yellow umbrella. The listed location is 28HF+85H.

What time should I arrive?

The meeting time is 10:30am, and you should arrive 20 minutes early.

How long is the kayaking portion?

The guided kayak or canoe outing lasts about one hour, from approximately 11am to noon.

Is a cave visit included?

Yes. The boat visits Santa Maria Caves on Comino for about 20 minutes and enters the caves by boat.

How long can I stay at the Blue Lagoon?

You can stay until your arranged pickup, with the last boat from the Blue Lagoon to Gozo at 6pm.

Do I need a reservation for Comino?

Yes. From May 1, 2025, visitors must reserve a Comino time slot through blcomino.com. The booking is currently free for the 2025 season.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, so bring your own food if you need it.

What equipment is provided?

The activity provides a life vest, paddle, bottle of water, and access to a shared lockable storage area. Dry bags are not provided.