Discover The Enchanting Depths Of The Blue Grotto

Boasting a stunning scenery of quaint fishing villages, tranquil seaports and charming hill-top towns, Malta is a destination with plenty for the outdoor lover. The island offers a wide range of ancient temples, cathedrals and cultural sites to explore at your leisure, as well as access to the inviting blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

With so many fantastic attractions, it is no surprise that Malta has become a popular tourist destination. The eastern end of the island, however, is a little quieter and home to one of Malta’s most exceptional sites, the Blue Grotto.

The Spectacular Blue Grotto

This naturally beautiful site is made up of an enormous archway that hangs 30m above your head and six smaller, but equally as striking, caves. It was created by the strong waves of the open water that crashed into the cliff face and slowly eroded it over time. The caves are filled with pools of crystal clear water. On a sunny day, the blue sky reflects on the white sandy seabed to create an incredible deep blue colour in these pools. Paired with the bright and vivid underwater flowers, this complex is a captivating blend of light and colour.

Exploring the Grotto

·         Swimming and snorkelling

If you access the caves by boat, you are usually permitted to get out and swim around the shallower caves. If you think ahead, you could even bring your snorkel to get a better view. However, if the caves are busy you may not be allowed to leave the boat, in which case I’d recommend swimming or snorkelling in Wied iz-Żurrieq. Though not in the actual caves, you can still swim along the valley’s rock face and admire the shoals of fish below.

·         Diving

Alternatively, you can go diving. Though this isn’t permitted inside the actual caves either, the Um El Faroud Wreck is a popular dive site nearby. You will see through the same crystal-clear blue waters and explore the reefs’ various fish.

Insider tip: Look out for moray eels, red mullet, cuttlefish, scorpion fish and damselfish.

Getting to the Grotto

The easiest way to get to the Blue Grotto is to go on a boat tour run by the local fishermen. They depart at regular intervals on a daily basis from 9am to 5pm from the Wied iż-Żurrieq harbour. The trip should take roughly 20 minutes.

Getting to Malta

Malta is easily accessible from the UK. Many low-cost airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet and Monarch, offer direct flights from various UK airports. The flight time is roughly three hours. I would always recommend organising a pre-booked Malta airport transfer to make your arrival as stress-free as possible. There are shared, group and private transfers available – the shared option, though, is best if you are looking for cost-effective transport. Depending on where you plan to set up camp, your pre-booked Malta airport transfershould take anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for an affordable pre-booked Malta airport transfer Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.