DK Travel : Malta & Gozo : Comino

Comino

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Comino is a diminutive but paradisiacal island with a permanent population of just four or five. The Romans introduced the cumin that gives Comino its name, and its spicy scent, mingled with thyme and other aromatic herbs, lingers headily in the air. It takes just a couple of hours to make a circuit of the island, taking in dramatic cliffs and rocky coves where other visitors – even in the height of summer – rarely penetrate. Comino’s most famous natural attraction is the dazzling Blue Lagoon; it’s best to stay overnight in the island’s one hotel if you want to enjoy its turquoise waters in peace.
Boats ferry passengers between Ċirkewwa (on Malta) and Mġarr (on Gozo) all year round; the trip takes around 25 minutes and the standard fare is Lm2. The Comino Hotel also runs a ferry service for its guests, which non-residents can use for a fee of Lm3.50 per person from March to October.. The Comino Hotel has a restaurant and there are mobile snack vans, but the best option is to bring a picnic. Comino’s single policeman runs up the flag on the little pink police station when he is in residence.

Top 10 Features

1. Blue Lagoon

1. Blue Lagoon

This glorious natural inlet divides Comino from the miniature islet of Cominotto. Its famously clear azure waters are quiet and sheltered, making them popular with families. The Lagoon has no sandy beach, but the smooth, flat rocks are inviting.
2. St Mary’s Tower

The most imposing building on Comino is a crenellated watchtower guarding the sea passage between Malta and Gozo. It was erected in 1618 by order of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt, and troops stationed here protected locals against the constant threat of corsair raids.
3. Chapel of Our Lady’s Return from Egypt

3. Chapel of Our Lady’s Return from Egypt

This charming chapel overlooking Santa Marija Bay is also called the Chapel of the Annunciation. Built in the 13th-century, its simple bell tower and whitewashed walls are reminiscent of Greek island chapels.
4. The Village

A rather ramshackle building behind St Mary’s Tower, this was an isolation hospital in the early 20th century. It houses Comino’s few remaining inhabitants.
5. St Mary’s Battery

5. St Mary’s Battery

This sturdy battery was built by the Knights in 1714 as part of a chain of coastal defences across the Maltese islands. It was topped with a semi-circular gun platform, but the cannons mounted there were never fired.
6. St Niklaw Bay

6. St Niklaw Bay

This pretty bay is one of only two sandy beaches on Comino, but non-guests at the Comino Hotel must pay a fee to use it.
7. Santa Marija Bay

7. Santa Marija Bay

Comino’s second sandy beach is overlooked by a few pink bungalows, a pink police station and a whitewashed chapel. It’s perfect for swimming and snorkelling.
8. Crystal Lagoon

8. Crystal Lagoon

Just beyond the Blue Lagoon, this natural inlet is fringed by steep cliffs. As a result it can only be accessed by boat. The incredibly clear waters make it a popular snorkelling site.
9. Cominotto

9. Cominotto

Cominotto, or Cominetto, is a tiny islet facing Comino across the Blue Lagoon. It has a tiny stretch of beach at low tide you can wade across from Comino, and its rocky coastline is riddled with numerous caves. It’s one of the best diving spots in the area.
10. Wildlife

10. Wildlife

Hunting here is illegal, but the ban is regularly violated. In spite of this, Comino offers good bird-watching opportunities, particularly in spring. For such a dry island there is diverse plant life.

Practical Information

Boats ferry passengers between Ċirkewwa (on Malta) and Mġarr (on Gozo) all year round; the trip takes around 25 minutes and the standard fare is Lm2. The Comino Hotel also runs a ferry service for its guests, which non-residents can use for a fee of Lm3.50 per person from March to October.. The Comino Hotel has a restaurant and there are mobile snack vans, but the best option is to bring a picnic.