Gozo

The smaller Island of Gozo is greener than it's big brother and an enchanting place to visit. It provides a peaceful haven for a more relaxed atmosphere and those looking for a quieter stay usually end up here. Its rugged landscape and stunning coastline just adds to the beauty of this little Island, with rocky inlets and red sand beaches to sail, snorkel, dive or fish. Gozo has some of the Mediterranean’s greatest dive sites, giving the opportunity to explore wrecks, caves and reefs. Baroque churches and old stone farmhouses dot the countryside.

The capital City of Gozo is Victoria (more popularly known as Rabat) and it is considered the heartbeat of the Island. The main square, It Tokk, houses a daily open air market and is a great place to sit with a coffee and watch the world go by.

Gozo’s Attractions include: The Citadel (also known as ‘Gran Castello’), Museums, Churches, The Megalithic Temples of Ggantija located near Xaghra. The famous ‘Calypso Cave’ is located near Xaghra, the steps down into the interior are steep as they are cut from the rock, but it gives a fantastic insight to the famous legend behind it.

The three famous wonders can be found near Dwejra point, the fungus rock, the Inland sea and the Azure window. Gozo can be reached by ferry departing from Cirkewwa in Malta; the ferry service (foot passengers and cars) is cheap (around LM2 for per foot passenger) and leaves on a regular schedule throughout summer and winter, it takes around thirty minutes.

There is also a regular helicopter service that links Malta’s International Airport (Luqa) to the heliport in Xewkija on Gozo. It takes around fifteen minutes; this is the more expensive option at around LM50 (regular fare) return per adult.

Comino

Comino lies between Malta and Gozo; it is where the beautiful ‘Blue Lagoon’ is located. This tiny little Island is car free and has only one Hotel that is mainly open during the summer months when the demand is greater. Visitors usually visit Comino for the day, specifically for a swim in the Blue Lagoon, arriving on tour boats. Comino is sheer bliss for divers, snorkellers, windsurfers and hikers alike.

Trip Fact File Location: Malta Getting to Malta: For visitors from North America and Australia/New Zealand, we recommend getting flights to London, then on to Malta as direct flights are very costly. Flights from the USA: Start from US$300 from the east coast and around US$400 from the west coast to the United Kingdom. Flights to London from Australia and New Zealand will be around A$2000 and NZ$2500. Flights with British Airways to Malta start from around £90.00 return. It is possible to find deals with charter airlines in the summer, but these can not be relied on for advance bookings. Currency: The currency of Malta is the Maltese Lira which is divided up into 100 cents. At time of publishing the exchange rate was… GB £1 =0.63 Maltese Lira (MTL) US $1 =0.34 Maltese Lira (MTL) CA $1 =0.30 Maltese Lira (MTL)   A $1= 0.26 Maltese Lira (MTL) NZ $1= 0.22 Maltese Lira (MTL)

The two ferries that transport passengers from Malta and Gozo to Comino leave from Mgarr (Gozo) and Cirkewwa (Malta) in addition to other Chartered Yachts from other parts of the island. During the summer months regular sea connections link Comino with Mgarr, Gozo, and Cirkewwa in Malta.

The best way to travel around Malta is by bus, some of which are up to seventy years old. Most of the bus routes are via Valletta’s main terminus (in front of Valletta’s main gate), it is certainly an experience and cheap to travel around in. The (older) buses can often be cramped and uncomfortable, but you really need to try it. The buses are all identified by numbers, not named routes, but you can obtain a bus timetable easily enough.

The customary Maltese drawn carriage (Karrozzin) is possibly the most romantic way of getting around Malta. These are privately owned by the driver and mostly located in Valletta, though there may be some in Sliema and Mdina. You will need to agree a price before you commence your trip, though be aware that they can be a bit on the expensive side.