Gozo by Private Boat: A Full Day on the West Coast
Most visitors reach Gozo the same way: queue for the car ferry at Ċirkewwa, drive the length of the island, then queue again to get back. It works, but it puts you on Gozo’s roads and car parks, not on its water.
A private boat trip gets you there by sea instead. You leave from Malta in the morning, cross to Gozo, and spend the day exploring the island’s west and north coast from the water: the Inland Sea, the sea caves at Dwejra, the gorge at Wied il-Għasri, and a red sand beach at Ramla Bay that most day-trippers never reach.
Malta Catamaran Charters has been running full-day charters to Gozo for over a decade. This page covers the route, what’s included, and what a day on the water looks like.
What a Gozo Boat Trip Covers
A full-day Gozo charter takes in the best of the island’s west and north coast in a single loop:
- Dwejra — the site of the former Azure Window, now a cluster of sea caves and a dramatic stretch of coastline best seen from the water
- The Inland Sea — a sheltered lagoon connected to the open sea through a narrow tunnel in the cliff
- Wied il-Għasri — a narrow limestone gorge with some of the clearest water on the island, good for snorkelling
- Ramla Bay — Gozo’s largest sandy beach, known for its red-gold sand
- Lunch at anchor, or a stop ashore in MÄ¡arr harbour if the group prefers
Since it’s a private charter, the order and pace of the day is flexible. Some groups want to swim and snorkel at every stop; others want more time at one or two spots and a slower lunch.
How to Get to Gozo by Private Boat
You depart from Roland Marina in Ta’ Xbiex or Sliema ferries in the morning. The crossing takes you along Malta’s coast before the open water to Gozo, so the journey itself is part of the day rather than a means to an end.
This is different from the vehicle ferry from Ċirkewwa, which gets you and a car onto Gozo but not to any of the spots above — those are reached mainly by boat, or by a longer drive plus a walk.
What’s Included
- 8 hours on the water, departing 10am and returning around 6pm
- Skipper and fuel
- SUP boards on selected boats and an ice box
- Food and drinks: bring your own, or pre-order the BBQ package at €40 per person, including drinks
- Pick-up and drop-off from Roland Marina or Sliema ferries
- Bring your own towels, drinking water, and a mask and fins if you’d like to snorkel
This is private boat hire, not a shared tour: pricing is per boat, not per person, and starts from €700 for a full day, with catamarans from €900. Private charters for groups of up to 55 per boat, and bigger groups can book two or three boats together.
Combine Gozo with Comino
If you want to combine Gozo with a stop at the Blue Lagoon at Comino, we run that as a combined route on the same day. It’s a longer day than either route on its own, but it means seeing both in a single charter rather than booking twice.
Best Time for a Gozo Boat Trip
The charter season runs April to October. The west coast around Dwejra and Wied il-Għasri is more exposed to swell from certain wind directions than the sheltered route to Comino, so your skipper will confirm the exact stops on the day based on the forecast, and may adjust the order (for example, more time at Ramla Bay if conditions call for it).
Gozo Boat Trip: Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a boat trip to Gozo from Malta?
A full-day charter runs around 8 hours, from 10am to 6pm, including the crossing and stops at Dwejra, the Inland Sea, Wied il-Għasri, Ramla Bay, and lunch.
Can you swim at Dwejra and Wied il-Għasri?
Yes, conditions permitting. Both are popular snorkelling stops on a private charter. Your skipper will confirm on the day, since the west coast is more exposed to swell than the sheltered route to Comino.
Is a private boat trip to Gozo better than the car ferry?
They serve different purposes. The car ferry gets a vehicle onto Gozo so you can explore inland. A private boat trip reaches the coastal spots that are hard to get to by road, without a ferry queue.
Can you combine Gozo and Comino on the same day?
Yes. Malta Catamaran Charters runs a combined route covering Gozo’s west coast and the Blue Lagoon at Comino on the same day, for groups who want both in one charter.
Do I need to bring food?
No, though you’re welcome to. We also offer a BBQ package on board at €40 per person, including drinks.
What happens if the weather is bad?
If wind reaches Force 5 or above, the charter is cancelled and your deposit is refunded in full.
Ready to Book?
See Gozo from the water instead of a car window. Private charters for groups of up to 55 per boat. Browse our boats and book online, or contact us to plan the route together.