The Santa Marija Caves are a string of sea caves cut into the cliffs of Comino, explored by boat rather than on foot. Expect skippers to nose into arched chambers and narrow inlets when the swell allows, then swing you back out into the open for swims in the luminous water outside.
What you experience depends on the sea state, the size of your boat and where you start. Small and mid‑size boats get closest to the rock and can slip into tighter openings, while larger cruisers tend to pause at the cave mouths. Calm mornings are best for clear water and easier entries. The Santa Marija Caves are on Comino, so if you are based in Malta's north it is easy to join a trip without crossing the whole island. Many travellers pair a caves run with a swim at the nearby Blue Lagoon Comino or the quieter Crystal Lagoon on the same outing.
Getting there is by boat only. Departures cluster in the north of Malta, with regular trips from Bugibba in St Paul’s Bay, Mellieha and Cirkewwa, plus options from Gozo on specific charters. That gives you a simple rule of thumb: pick the departure that is closest to where you are staying to cut down on coach transfers and early starts. For beach days either side of your trip, Mellieha Bay and Paradise Bay are the easiest sands near the main marinas, and if you dive, Cirkewwa diving is right by the Cirkewwa quays.
There are no opening hours for the caves, because this is a boat experience on open water. Operators judge sea conditions and daylight, and routes can change if swell builds against the cliffs. In shoulder seasons captains may shorten swim stops, and on rough days cave entries can be skipped.
On costs and tickets, book the boat rather than the cave. There are 17 offers for boat trips to the Santa Marija Caves, spread across shared cruises, speedboats and private charters, so you can match time and budget. Many offers show free cancellation, which is useful if you want to keep an eye on the wind forecast before committing.
How long to allow depends on the style of trip you prefer. If you want a full day out on the water with swims and time to hop off at Comino hotspots, plan around the longer cruises. If you simply want a focused circuit of the caves and nearby bays, the shorter runs get you there and back in one outing without the long layovers.
Access is by boat ladder or steps, and swims are from the boat, so you need to be comfortable moving around a wet deck and climbing a short ladder. The caves themselves are not a fixed attraction you can walk into, and wave rebound inside the chambers can be surprising for non‑swimmers. If you are uneasy in open water, tell the crew and stick to the calmer swim stops outside the cave mouths.
What to bring and what to wear:
- Swimwear, a light cover‑up and grippy sandals that can handle wet decks
- A compact dry bag for phone and wallet
- Reef‑safe sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat that will not blow off
- A towel and a spare T‑shirt for the ride back
- Water and a snack, especially on shorter trips that do not include long shore breaks
Food choices on Comino are limited, so plan to eat before or after on Malta or Gozo. If you want an easy lunch within a short drive of the main northern marinas, the strips around Mellieha and Cirkewwa have plenty of options near the beaches mentioned above. If you prefer to keep the sea‑cave theme going on Malta itself another day, the arches at the Blue Grotto make a good partner trip.
Tours, cruises and other offers change with the season, but a few patterns help you choose. Hornblower Cruises runs a 7h trip from Bugibba (St Paul's Bay) with a starting price of 20 €. Mermaid Cruises runs a 5h 45m option from Bugibba (St Paul's Bay) with a starting price of 20 €. Oh Yeah Malta runs a 6h 15m cruise from Mellieha with a starting price of 15 €. Sea Life Cruises offers a 3h 30m trip from Cirkewwa with a starting price of 27 €. Robert Arrigo & Sons lists a 7h tour from Mellieha with pickup available and a starting price of 60 €. If you want the boat to yourself, Aloha runs a private boat from 440 € and a private party from 625 € with departures for the party from Cirkewwa and Mgarr (Gozo). For a quick sense of reputation, Hornblower Cruises is rated 4.9 from 85 reviews, and the overall customer rating is 4.9 from 537 reviews.
What people get wrong: trying to do the caves as a shore walk, which is not possible. Treat this as a boat day and your choices get simple. Another common mistake is picking the wrong departure point and spending your morning in traffic. If you are based in the north, Mellieha and Cirkewwa departures are easiest. If you are in St Paul’s Bay, Bugibba is the natural choice. If you know you only want a short window on the water, pick the speedboat‑style runs and avoid the full‑day cruisers that build in long swim and sunbathing stops. And if you want quieter water inside the caves, set your alarm and aim for the first departures of the day.
What is actually bookable here
- 1 bookable option via Tiqets
- about €35 per person at the time of checking
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead on 1 of the 1
- 1 listed as wheelchair accessible
- Rated 4.6/5 on average by travellers on the partner sites, across the 1 that carry ratings.
Taken from the operators' own listings, checked 15 September 2026. Ratings are theirs, not ours, and we do not host reviews.
Common questions
Can I swim into the Santa Marija Caves on my own from shore?
No. The caves are sea-facing indentations in Comino’s cliffs and are visited by boat. There is no safe shore approach that gets you into the main chambers without a boat.
Is there an entrance fee for the caves themselves?
No. You pay the operator for the boat trip. Prices vary by route and boat size, from budget group cruises to private charters.
How rough is it inside the caves?
It depends on swell and skipper judgement on the day. On calm mornings boats may nose into several chambers. In stronger swell a captain may keep distance or skip entries for safety.
Last checked: 6 October 2026. Prices, opening hours and timetables change, verify anything time-sensitive before you travel. Photo: Frank Vincentz, CC BY-SA 3.0.
