Just beyond the cliffs and sea lavender of Ġebel Barbaġanni – the ‘Barn Owl’s Rocks’ – lies one of Gozo’s lesser-known natural beauties: Ta’ Bumbarin, a secluded creek with both stunning beauty and a name rooted in Malta’s ecological past.

This area, overflowing with typical coastal flora like wild cliff carrot, golden samphire, and endemic sea lavender, is already a treat for nature lovers and hikers. But it’s the peaceful inlet known as Ta’ Bumbarin that really draws in explorers, not just for a refreshing swim, but for the mystery behind its name.

The name Ta’ Bumbarin might not ring any immediate bells, but it likely stems from ‘bumarin’, the Maltese term for the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). This rare marine mammal, once found around the Maltese Islands, is now sadly considered critically endangered from our region. Still, the name lingers in places once known to be its habitat.

Local hiker and explorer Gregory Camenzuli notes that Għar il-Bumarini, a nearby sea cave, hints at the presence of these animals in times past. He describes it as a large H-shaped sea cave, carved out by freshwater trickling from its ceiling and shaped by the natural erosion of the sea. The name suggests that this cave – like others across the Mediterranean – was once a refuge for the elusive monk seal.

You’ll even find similar names echoing this memory elsewhere: ‘Grotta dei Bovi Marini’ in Lampedusa, ‘Cala del Bue Marino’ in Pantelleria, ‘Grotta del Bue Marino’ in Favignana and Filicudi, and ‘Le Grotte del Bue Marino’ in Sardinia. All these names reference the same gentle creature that once called these coastlines home.

To reach Ta’ Bumbarin, start at the southern coastal edge of Qala, and follow the coastal path east of Ġebel Barbaġanni. Another way of reaching it is to start at the popular Ħondoq ir-Rummien Bay and to walk towards the west along the coast. It’s a great hike for botany enthusiasts, adventurers, and anyone seeking a quiet swimming spot off the beaten track.

Have you ever been there?