December 2025 Winter Boat Rides
Hello fellow Eco Solo Travelers!
I was hoping to find a casual, cozy boat ride during my ventures here, but this isn’t the time or place. This mighty river hosts massive cargo ships navigating one of the world’s most treacherous maritime passages! And a time of year when winter storms can challenge even the most experienced captains. It’s an area referred to as the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” with more than 2,000 recorded shipwrecks due to strong currents and shifting sandbars. It’s a major deepwater port where tankers, container ships, and car carriers pass through.
I confess, I am entirely drawn to the art, history, and human charms of this place. From the high perch of Astoria’s hilltop homes and business windows, I smile with my cup of joe in hand, spying these great ships processing in and out of the river corridor after anchoring, finally, after long weeks of distant sea travel, waiting to load or unload their cargo. Most of the residences and businesses here face the river, therefore having perfect screening of the action. I think of Astoria as a Waterfront Theater, including a full audience of clapping sea lions cheering at all hours. Most of my days have included guessing when the weather might break so I can take a lengthy stroll on the riverwalk. I had no idea how special this place is. I appreciate the vibe, the atmosphere, and the genuine sogginess hug of Astoria.
All this to say, I was inspired to think about slow, solo eco travel for winter travel. As a solo digital nomad, I keep my fellow community travelers in mind, considering what we need: reliable Wi-Fi, warmth, a comfortable bed, safe surroundings, and a minimal environmental impact. Keeping resourcefulness in mind, I suggest a purposeful, creative, and local approach, utilizing public ferries, short river/coastal boats, and trains between hubs, thereby avoiding large cruise ships and the highest-emission transport.
As always, respect local ecosystems, pack light, avoid single-use plastics, stick to marked trails, and support local, small-scale businesses. Also, do your due diligence in researching customs and cultures, and learn a few key phrases in the language when abroad. Carry a local SIM and download offline maps.
Need a change of scenery this winter? Here is proposed three-month itinerary that combines travel, work, and exploration, all while staying cozy.
From the US, take two flights (Iberia to Athens; Athens to Antalya). Everything else is boats and trains.
Month 1: Southern Portugal and Spain + Canary Islands (warmth, excellent Wi‑Fi, frequent ferries). Destination: Algarve, Portugal. 10 days. Fly into Faro Airport (FAO). It’s the gateway to the Algarve and offers the shortest, most direct transfers to Lagos or Tavira. Lisbon is a good backup if flights to Faro aren’t available. Stay: Lagos or Tavira. You can find budget apartments/bungalows with Wi‑Fi in all these proposed areas, especially for single travelers. Transit: Take the train from Lisbon to Lagos/Tavira, then use the convenient local buses. For your water day trip, I found that you can take mini boat excursions for $25–45 to the Bengali sea caves via a coastal boat. Boats: $25–45, electric or rowboat cave tours are available.
Days 11–17: Cádiz–Tarifa, Spain, via train from Málaga to Algeciras and bus to Tarifa. Your waterway play days are filled with coastal dolphin-watching boat excursions or an eco-friendlier choice, a short ferry ride from Algeciras to Ceuta for a day trip. Ferry/boats: $20–$40.
Days 18–30, Canary Islands: Use the Inter-island ferries (Fred. Olsen Express/Naviera Armas) and local buses. Stay in Gran Canaria (Las Palmas) or Tenerife (Santa Cruz) for strong Wi-Fi and transit. Water ferries Tenerife to La Gomera/Gran Canaria; small coastal, low-speed tours on glass-bottom boats. $30–$60 per leg
Days 31–60/Month 2: Athens and the Saronic Gulf + Crete (year-round ferries, mild winter, strong connectivity). Stay 10 days in Athens to get adjusted and establish cellular and Wi-Fi connections. Transit: Metro/tram in Athens; ferries (Hydrofoils) $12–25 per leg to Aegina, Hydra, Poros (year-round, short routes) and city transit: $2–$6. Eco note: Hydra has no cars, making it a perfect destination for low-impact stays.
Days 41–50, Crete: Transit on the overnight ferry from Athens to Crete (cabin optional), local buses across Crete. Find your lodging in Heraklion ($35-$85) or Chania for strong Wi‑Fi. Check for local schedules for island hopping. Some travelers may opt to use an overnight ferry as an alternative to a hotel night and a flight.
Days 51-60: Be spontaneous with deals you may find, where you can randomly choose stays on a Saronic island for work/rest. Confirm your flight from Athens to Antalya and make your way to Athens to fly out to Türkiye, one of my favorite exotic countries.
Days 61–75, Turkish Mediterranean: Arrive in Antalya and use the HAVAŞ bus to get to the city, as well as local buses. Use coastal boats where available, buses for longer legs. Stay in Antalya or Kemer for good Wi‑Fi. Boat outings cost $15–30, but they are infrequent and dependent on the weather.
Days 76–88, Fethiye–Kabak Transit: Coach Antalya to Fethiye; dolmuş/minibus to Kabak. Confirm your lodging has WIFI. This is your nature-heavy, low-transit segment.
Days 89–90: Spontaneous deals are abundant in the winter, so be open to staying in some of your favorite spots you encountered here. Make your way back on the HAVAŞ bus to Antalya city near the airport for strong Wi‑Fi. Your estimated budget for a 90-night eco solo traveler trip in this itinerary will be around $3,120–$5,580.
You may decide to keep things even simpler and slower, opting for a 90-day stay entirely in Iberia, from Portugal's south coast to Cádiz/Tarifa, to the Canary Islands, and extend to a full 3 months using inter-island ferries or a Greece-only variant.
Must-Haves:
· My minimal essentials: Osprey backpack, lightweight down jacket, fleece anything, base layers, rain shell, waterproof head beanie, gloves, packable reusable mug/bottle, quick-dry towel.
· Connectivity: eSIM for EU (Portugal/Spain/Greece), local SIM in Türkiye; power bank; offline maps. Best fitting shoes, two pairs if possible. For zero-waste travel, follow the carry-out policy, refill water at accommodations, shop at local markets, and reuse containers whenever possible.
Happy Traveling!