Santa Marija Bay

Santa Marija is a small bay of sand on the northern side of Comino, reached by walking across the island from the ferry landing at the Blue Lagoon, about twenty minutes over open ground. A stand of tamarisk trees behind the beach gives the only real shade on the island, and there is a chapel, a police post and the old isolation hospital nearby. It is markedly quieter than the Blue Lagoon and the water is just as clear.

What you actually see

• The tamarisk shade - the only substantial shade on Comino, behind the beach.
• The quiet - a bay far less crowded than the Blue Lagoon a walk away.
• The chapel - the small church of Santa Marija above the bay.
• The clear water - swimming as good as the Blue Lagoon without the boats.

When to go

May to October when the ferries run. Weekdays are quieter than weekends. The island is nearly deserted outside the summer season.

Honest expectations

There are no facilities at all beyond a seasonal kiosk. The walk across the island is exposed with no shade. Ferries do not run in winter and camping needs a permit.

Nearby

The Blue Lagoon is southwest, and St Mary's Tower is south.