Boats leave a calm lagoon on Gozo's west coast, pass through a natural tunnel in the rock and come out beneath tall cliffs on the open Mediterranean.
Waterfront, Victoria. Meridian Dispatch.
Yes, when conditions are suitable. The shore is the easy place to get in, and boats run through the tunnel, so swim away from its mouth.
Bus 311 runs from Victoria bus station to Dwejra Bay; from the Mgarr ferry, take a bus to Victoria first. The lagoon is about a five-minute walk from the stop. By car, the drive from Victoria takes roughly 15 minutes.
Visitors report a large free car park on site at Dwejra. From it, the lagoon shore where the boat trips start is an easy walk.
Yes. The tunnel through the rock is an advanced dive rather than a beginner site, so it suits divers who already have advanced training. The lagoon itself is also used for swimming.
Yes. The official Dwejra Walk starts and ends in Victoria over 13 km, graded moderate, with some steep inclines and a few rocky areas. The route mixes urban, coastal and countryside stretches, with trail markings along the way.
Yes. Rock-cut steps lead down to the Dwejra Bay Fossil, a circular fossil in the rock at Dwejra, on the route of the official Dwejra Walk. Repeated attempts to steal fossils here have damaged many, so a whole specimen is hard to spot.
The Inland Sea, called Il-Qawra in Maltese, is a lagoon of seawater at Dwejra. It is linked to the Mediterranean through a narrow opening formed by a natural arch.
On the lagoon side the water lies calm, and fishermen's huts stand along a small pebbly shore.
Underwater, the site holds cardinal fish, John Dory, parrot fish, colourful sponges and anemones, and sometimes nudibranchs and fire worms.
Seen from the open sea, the tunnel mouth sits at the foot of the cliffs that close the lagoon off from the coast. The lagoon counts among the most distinctive natural sights on Gozo, and the shore, the tunnel and the water outside can all be seen in a single visit.
Boat trips leave from the lagoon itself. Each boat goes through the cave in the rock to the open sea, with a view of nearby Fungus Rock. The ride takes about 15 minutes.
Back on land, walk a few minutes to the Blue Hole, a natural pool about 10 metres wide in front of the spot where the Azure Window once stood. Dwejra Tower is also within walking distance.
The coastal walking around Dwejra is worthwhile on its own, so allow longer than the boat ride if you want to see the whole headland.
Wear shoes that grip on uneven limestone, and bring sun protection, because shade is limited around the lagoon. Carry water, especially in summer.
For photographs, the first and last hour of light give the best colour, while midday brings the brightest water inside the tunnel.
You can walk the Cittadella's ramparts in Victoria, Gozo's capital, after dinner, and in the morning catch a bus from the terminal below to any corner of the island.
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