Must visit: Blue Grotto in Malta

After my first trip to Malta, I wanted to go back immediately. The Maltese are rarely hospitable, the island is Mediterranean beautiful, and the city of Valletta is vibrant. Everything you need, if you ask me. By the way, did you know that in December it’s still around twenty degrees? A great place to catch some sun rays. One of my highlights in Malta was the boat trip to the Blue Grotto, a bit wobbly due to the storm from the days before, but beautiful.

From the village of Wied Iz-Zurrieq, you slalom down the stone path. You can also pay someone to take you to the boat by golf cart, but as far as I'm concerned, it's perfectly fine on foot. Along the way, you encounter Maltese people who are still rinsing their boats and nodding at you kindly. Once at the quay, you need to be alert. Blue Grotto is a tourist attraction, which means things need to be organized quickly and firmly. But once you’re on board and heading towards the caves in a small boat, that part is forgotten.

It takes about twenty minutes of sailing before you realize that the boats can't get any bigger. The captain maneuvers as far into the caves as humanly possible. You are almost nose-to-rock, and if you have a spot at the edge of the boat, you can let your hand go through the clear water. I have rarely seen water that is so breathtakingly blue or rock that was so purple.

The natural caves have been eroded by the sea, resulting in seven caves. The best time to visit them is at the end of the morning, as the sun then reflects beautifully on the sandy bottom of the sea.