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

The best part of this outing is the mix: you get a guided kayak along Gozo’s Hondoq Bay, a boat ride into Comino’s Santa Maria Caves, and a Blue Lagoon drop-off without booking three separate activities. I especially like the quick beach stop during the paddle and the freedom to choose how long you stay at the lagoon.

I also like that the group is kept small and that the $41 price includes the kayak, paddle, life vest, water, and boat transfers. The main catch is timing: the activity is advertised as three hours, but the published schedule can keep you at the Blue Lagoon until the last boat at 6pm, and pickup can be confusing when Comino is crowded.

Key points at a glance

• Hondoq Bay kayaking: Paddle for about one hour along Gozo’s coast with a guide, including a short stop at a small beach.
• Santa Maria Caves by speedboat: The boat enters the caves near Comino, with the cave visit lasting about 20 minutes.
• Flexible Blue Lagoon stay: You are dropped off at the lagoon and can swim, snorkel, walk, or relax until your arranged pickup.
• Useful price: At $41 per person, the package covers several water activities and boat transport, though lunch and hotel transfers cost extra.
• Important 2025 rule: You need a free time-slot booking from blcomino.com before the operator can take you to the Blue Lagoon.
• Best for active swimmers: Non-swimmers, people prone to seasickness, and anyone with limited fitness should choose another outing.

Three water activities from Hondoq Bay

This is a compact water day built around Hondoq Bay, a coastal spot on Gozo near Qala. You meet the Joyride Watersports Gozo team at the jetty under a large yellow umbrella. The meeting time is 10:30am, and you are asked to arrive 20 minutes early.

That early arrival matters. You need to show your voucher, sign a disclaimer, hear the plan, and place belongings in a shared lockable area on land. The storage is useful, but it is shared and used at your own risk. Do not bring a large suitcase or oversized bag.

The order is sensible. You start with the active part while you are fresh, take a break at Hondoq Bay, and then move by boat toward Comino. The day finishes with free time at the Blue Lagoon rather than a tightly managed sightseeing circuit.

You should think of this as an outing with three linked sections, not a traditional guided sightseeing tour. The kayaking is the only part where you follow a guide closely. At the lagoon, your time is self-directed.

Why the Hondoq Bay paddle is worth doing

The kayaking lasts about one hour, roughly from 11am to noon. Before setting off, the guide explains how to handle the paddle, and you follow along the Hondoq Bay coastline. The route is designed for views of the coast and a little time on the water, rather than a long endurance trip.

I like this length. One hour gives you a proper taste of kayaking without taking over the whole day. If you are new to paddling, it is long enough to learn the basic rhythm but short enough that tired arms should not ruin your Blue Lagoon time.

A quick stop at a small beach breaks up the effort. It also gives you a chance to get out of the kayak, look around, and reset before returning to Hondoq Bay. The supplied details do not promise a long beach visit, so treat it as a short pause rather than a full beach session.

The paddle is best for people with a reasonable level of fitness. You need to handle a kayak and paddle for an hour, and conditions can change with the weather. The operator can alter or cancel the outing if conditions are unsuitable.

Some practical limits are firm. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers, people with back problems, pregnant women, people prone to seasickness, or anyone over 110 kilograms. It is also not recommended for people over 70 or for anyone with a low level of fitness.

Children under three cannot join. One family group with children aged five to nine enjoyed the kayaking and speedboat, but that does not remove the need to judge your own children’s swimming ability and comfort around moving water.

A useful break at Hondoq Bay

After kayaking, you get about 30 to 35 minutes of free time at Hondoq Bay. Public restrooms are available, which makes this a good point to change clothes, refill your plans for the afternoon, or simply sit down before the boat ride.

Lunch is not included. The supplied information does not specify food arrangements at the bay, so bring what you need or plan to buy food separately if available. A small snack is sensible, especially if you intend to swim later.

This pause is short, so do not wander far from the meeting point. You need to be ready for the boat departure at about 12:45pm. Keep your voucher, phone, and any pickup instructions secure, and avoid carrying a large beach bag onto the boat.

Entering Santa Maria Caves by boat

The boat ride to Comino includes a roughly 20-minute visit to Santa Maria Caves. The boat goes inside the caves, giving you a view that would be difficult to get from a normal ferry or a distant sightseeing cruise.

The caves were used in the 2003 film The Count of Monte Cristo. That movie connection adds a little interest, but the real reason to pay attention is the short ride through the rock openings and the change from open water to enclosed cave space.

The speedboat itself is part of the fun. It moves quickly and can throw spray, so wear swimwear or clothing that can get wet. A change of clothes and a towel belong in your day bag. Sunglasses can help in bright conditions, but secure them well.

The boat section is not a long guided lecture. Expect a scenic transfer and a close look at the caves, followed by the ride to the Blue Lagoon. If you want detailed geological commentary, this is probably not the right type of excursion.

Four hours at the Blue Lagoon, on your own terms

The main reward comes after the cave visit, when the boat drops you at the Blue Lagoon on Comino. You can swim, snorkel, walk, take in the views, or simply spend time beside the water. Your pickup time is arranged so you can make your own plan.

The water is famously clear and turquoise, and the setting is the visual centerpiece of the outing. Snorkeling equipment is not listed as included, so bring your own if you have it. The operator provides a life vest, paddle, and bottle of water, but not dry bags, lunch, or hotel transport.

The flexible stay is a real advantage. Many boat trips give you a fixed hour at the lagoon, which can feel rushed. Here, the schedule allows a longer visit, with the last boat from Blue Lagoon to Gozo listed at 6pm.

There is a catch: the Blue Lagoon can be very busy, even outside the peak summer months. One October outing still found the lagoon crowded, despite good snorkeling conditions. You should come for the clear water and scenery, not for solitude.

The pickup also needs attention. Comino can become confusing when several boats are loading and unloading at once. Keep your phone charged, listen carefully to the pickup instructions, and stay alert near the agreed meeting point. A little patience may be needed during boarding.

The new Comino booking rule matters

For the 2025 season, Malta introduced a time-slot system for visits to Comino and the Blue Lagoon. You must book a free slot through blcomino.com before the operator can take you there.

The available periods are:

• 8:00am to 1:30pm
• 1:31pm to 5:30pm
• 5:31pm to 10:00pm

For this outing, the first or second slot is the practical choice, since the boat leaves Hondoq Bay around 12:45pm and the return from the Blue Lagoon is listed by 6pm. Show your valid confirmation on arrival, and the operator will issue the boat boarding pass.

There was no charge for the booking during the 2025 season. Allow extra time for the new process. Delays may happen during docking and boarding while people adjust to the system.

This rule is easy to miss and could affect your day. Do not assume that paying for the activity alone gives you access to the lagoon. Book the official Comino slot first.

What the $41 price really covers

At $41 per person, the package offers fair value if you want a taste of Gozo and Comino in one outing. You get an hour of guided kayaking, the cave boat trip, a speedboat transfer, and a flexible Blue Lagoon visit.

The included equipment is basic but useful:

• Life vest
• Paddle
• Bottle of water
• Use of a shared lockable storage area on land

You still need to pay for or arrange your own transport to Hondoq Bay. Hotel pickup is not included. Lunch, dry bags, snorkeling equipment, towels, and extra clothing are also your responsibility.

The value depends on your plans. If you only want to swim at the Blue Lagoon, a simpler boat transfer may suit you better. If you want kayaking, caves, and lagoon time in one booking, this saves the trouble of arranging separate outings.

The duration needs careful reading. It is advertised as three hours, yet the detailed schedule includes a one-hour paddle, a 35-minute break, a cave trip, and up to four hours at the Blue Lagoon. Since the last return boat is listed at 6pm, you should keep much of the afternoon open.

Who should book this outing

I would choose this for an active day on the water, especially if you are staying on Gozo and want to see Comino without starting from Malta’s main island. It suits couples, families with older children, and small groups who like having both guided and unstructured time.

It is also a good fit if you do not want a full-day kayak trip. The one-hour paddle gives you some exercise, but the rest of the day is spent on a boat or at the lagoon.

You should skip it if you cannot swim, get seasick easily, or have back problems. The speedboat can be fast and wet, and the kayaking requires physical effort. The operator also lists the activity as unsuitable for pregnant women, people over 110 kilograms, people over 70, and anyone with a low level of fitness.

The outing can be cancelled or changed because of weather, and it may be cancelled if the group is too small. Keep that in mind when planning a tightly packed Gozo schedule.

What to pack for a smoother day

Wear beachwear from the start. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a towel, and a complete change of clothes. A waterproof phone pouch or dry bag is wise, since dry bags are not included and the speedboat can splash you.

Carry only a small bag. Large luggage and oversized items are not allowed. The shared storage area is lockable, but it is not described as private or fully risk-free.

Keep your Comino booking confirmation available on your phone. You will also need your activity voucher at the meeting point. A little cash or a payment card may be useful for food, though the supplied details do not specify what facilities are available at the Blue Lagoon.

Final verdict: a strong choice with two conditions

I like this outing because it gives you three very different water experiences for $41: calm coastal paddling, a short cave ride, and free time in the Blue Lagoon. The guides are described as friendly and accommodating, and the transport receives a 91 percent perfect score. The overall rating is 4.9 from 67 ratings.

Book it if you are comfortable swimming, can manage an hour in a kayak, and want flexibility at Comino. Before paying, confirm the exact return timing and book your free Blue Lagoon time slot at blcomino.com.

Skip it if you want a quiet beach day, dislike fast boats, or need a precisely timed three-hour activity. The lagoon may be crowded, the pickup can take patience, and the detailed schedule may run much longer than the headline duration.

FAQ

Where does the kayaking tour start?

Meet at the Hondoq Bay jetty in Qala, Gozo, under the large yellow umbrella. You should arrive 20 minutes before the 10:30am meeting time.

How long is the kayaking section?

The guided kayaking lasts about one hour, generally from 11am to noon. It follows the Hondoq Bay coastline and includes a short stop at a small beach.

Is the Blue Lagoon entry ticket included?

You must first book a free time slot through blcomino.com. The operator cannot take you to the Blue Lagoon without a valid booking confirmation. After showing it, you receive a boarding pass for the boat service.

How long can I stay at the Blue Lagoon?

You can stay until your arranged pickup time. The last boat from the Blue Lagoon to Gozo is listed at 6pm.

What equipment is included?

The activity includes a life vest, paddle, bottle of water, and use of a shared lockable storage area on land. Dry bags, lunch, and hotel transportation are not included.

Is this activity suitable for children?

Children under three cannot join. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers, and all participants need to be comfortable with kayaking and boat travel.

Can the activity be cancelled because of weather?

Yes. The trip may be altered or cancelled because of weather conditions. It may also be cancelled if the group is not large enough.