Blue Grotto and Marsaxlokk

Departing Valletta, you will drive to the Blue Grotto located on the island's south shore. Along the way you will drive through the countryside of Malta and make a stop in one of the typical local villages for photos.

Upon arriving at the seaside, you will look down on the Blue Grotto, a wild formation of rocks created by nature. The grotto is actually a number of caverns where every day, from sunrise until early afternoon, the location of the cave combines with the angle of the sunlight to create numerous shades of blue. In several of the caverns the water mirrors the brilliant phosphorescent colors of the underwater flora, while in other caverns it's a deep, dark shade of blue. Guests may also recognize it as a location in the Brad Pitt film "Troy." For those wanting to see it up close, you may have time to join one of the boat tours out to the grotto. The boat price is not included in the tour cost.

Returning to land, you will drive to Marsaxlokk, a traditional fishing village, approximately 20 minutes away. It was here that the first Phoenicians landed during the ninth century B.C. Your guide will take you on an orientation tour of the village. You will have several chances for photo opportunities of the bay filled with colorful fishing boats, and to see the rows of seafood restaurants and the crowded Sunday market where they sell fish, local produce and groceries. You will then drive back to Valletta, 30 minutes away.