The Blue Lagoon

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The Blue Lagoon is one of the most beautiful beaches in Malta, encircled by the islet of Cominotto and the island of Comino itself. The crystal clear waters in Blue Lagoon reflect the blue sky with a lovely turquoise, revealing the pure white sand bottom of this part of the Mediterranean Sea. This long and narrow bay surrounded by rocks and a little sand is almost like a pool, which makes it the ideal place for swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving or simply relaxing on the beach.

The island has a karst landscape supporting sclerophyllous shrubland. Some limited afforestation with pine trees has been carried out. The sand-dunes at Santa Maria bay retain some native vegetation, including Vitex and Tamarix trees. The island has been identified as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports fifty to eighty breeding pairs of yelkouan shearwaters.

If you have children, they can play safely in the warm shallow lagoon while the family enjoys the Maltese sun, practises any of the water sports inside the lagoon or even water skiing in the deeper waters nearby. Visited by tourist boats that anchor in the marina-like bay throughout the day, the lagoon is crowded on the weekend, but quieter during the week, especially in the evening, since the island only has an official population of three people. This way, these Maltese waters are sure to remain clean and transparent for years to come.

In fact, Comino and its Blue Lagoon are so beautiful that film-makers used this location in scenes for such productions as the mini-series Helen of Troy or the films Swept Away (featuring Madonna) and The Count of Monte Cristo.

While visiting Malta, save at least one morning or afternoon to visit the Blue Lagoon and the island of Comino. During summer, the sun waits for you (though remember to take plenty of protection as there is no shade there). In winter, this tiny Maltese island is an excellent destination for walkers and photo enthusiasts, providing many hiking trails all around.