eating vegetarian in south america

“What did you eat in while you were there?!” This was one of the most common questions when I came back from my travels in South America. Nope, this wasn’t questioning if I solely ate on ceviche while in Lima, or how many steaks I fit in while in Argentina. They were all concerned with – how I survived being a vegetarian in meat-heavy continent of South America.

Yes, you’ll pay more than the local food. Yes, it will take a little more effort. Yes, your street eats may be limited. BUT! There is no need to stress over it, as it is possible and not an obstacle.

communicating your diet

So, simply saying “soy vegetariano/a” [I am vegetarian] may not be enough. “No como carne” [I do not eat meat] may not be either. They’re good starting points, but I highly recommend learning the words for meat [carne], chicken [pollo], ham/pork [jamón/cerdo], and fish [pescado]. I found a lot of time I needed to specifically list out what I didn’t eat. If you’re vegan, a few other important keywords are eggs [huevos], dairy [lechería], and cheese [queso]. Many times I was surprised when I said I was vegetariana, I would be asked “perro, no eres vegana?”

When all else fails, make sure you have Google Translate downloaded to your phone!

where to stay

Staying somewhere with a kitchen will be easiest if you’re concerned about food restrictions. But to be honest, the only places I really cooked was in Chile or Argentina where everything was really expensive and I was trying to save some money. Two places where this was the exception – in El Bolson and Bariloche. This is because I stayed at sister hostels, Earthship Patagonia and Hostel 41 Below, where vegan breakfasts were included every morning and for a small fee, family style vegan dinners. TBH, I’m still dreaming about the homemade granola and coconut milk they had for breakfast.

snacks

If I’m being honest, in general, South America is slummin on the snack game. Residing in the United States, I’m used to healthy snacks galore. While I was guilty of snacking on plantain or lime chips way too often, there are definitely more options. On the healthy front, no matter what country you are in, there are markets with fresh fruits and veggies. And in case you needed one more reason to get yourself to South America, I’m talking 3 for $1 avocados!! On the not so healthy front, you can grab cheese arepas on the streets of Colombia or baked or fried veggie empanadas in Chile or Argentina.

favorite vegetarian spots

I already talked about my favorite dish in Filandia, but honestly, I ate sooo many great veggie dishes.

1. El Living : Puerto Natales, Chile. May or may not have eaten here three times…
2. Saludpan : Medellin, Colombia. Medellin was a vegetarian food mecca for me, but Saludpan had a great menu del dia which changed every day.
3. Organika : Cusco, Peru. Sometimes you just crave some greens… Organika provided just that
4. El Buda Profano : Arequipa, Peru. Did not think in South America I’d come across… VEGAN SUSHI.

other tips

• If you’re going on a tour, make sure to let your agency know ahead of time!
• Happy Cow is a great resource to look up vegetarian options when in a new place
• Another great resource? Ask other people you meet! I was surprised how many vegetarians I met

Are you a vegetarian who is nervous about traveling to South America? Would you like specifics on where to eat in each country?