Before I left for South America, I constantly got asked the same question: How on earth are you going to manage vegan backpacking in Ecuador and Peru? To be completely honest, the often very judgmental comments like, “you’ll starve” or „where will you get your proteins?“ really stressed me out after a while.

But spoiler alert: no matter where you travel, the choice to protect and respect animals doesn’t have to change. There is always a way to find plant-based options.

When it came to Ecuador and Peru, it was honestly so much easier than expected. People were way more aware of the term „vegan“ than I thought they would be. Even though it wasn’t always easy to find specific products, vegan friendly meals at restaurants, or communicate what I needed in a different language, I managed just fine.

That’s exactly why I worked on this guide. It will not only provide you with a list of my absolute favourite food spots (including where to find the best vegan empanadas!), but also the practical tools you need while traveling, like basic Spanish phrases and translation tools to figure out specific ingredients.

Choosing a conscious lifestyle shouldn’t stop you from exploring the world.

This guide will show you everything that made it incredibly easy to travel through Ecuador and Peru as a vegan backpacker.

How I Communicated and Checked Ingredients

Navigating spanish menus and local grocery stores can feel a bit intimidating at first when you don’t speak the language. Luckily, a few key phrases and one essential app are all it takes to make things incredibly easy.

1. Spanish phrases you’ll actually need

Simply saying “soy vegano” (I am vegan) doesn’t always work. Some locals think vegan just means you don’t eat meat and they might even think you still eat chicken. To be 100% safe, you need to be specific about what you don’t eat.

Here are the exact phrases I used on repeat (feel free to screenshot them for your trip haha):

• “Yo soy vegano/a. No como carne, pollo, pescado, leche, queso, mantequilla, ni huevos.” (I am vegan. I don’t eat meat, chicken, fish, milk, cheese, butter, or eggs.)
• “¿Se puede hacer sin queso / crema / mayo?” (Can it be made without cheese / cream / mayo?)
• “¿Este plato tiene manteca de cerdo?” (Does this dish have pork lard? – important to ask for beans, rice and tamales, as they often cook with it!)

2. My translation and grocery hack

If you don’t speak Spanish, the Google Translate app will literally be your best friend. I used it constantly throughout my journey, especially in moments where I wasn’t entirely sure if a waiter understood what I was asking for.

Pro Tip: It actually happened to me a few times that I suddenly ended up with zero signal, so definitely make sure to download the Spanish language inside the app before you leave. That way, you can use the translator completely offline.

The biggest game-changer might even be the camera feature inside the app.
If you’re standing in a supermarket aisle staring at a package or trying to decode a local menu, you can literally just take a picture through the app and it translates the text in real-time. It saved me so much time, cause I could instantly check the ingredient list for dairy or meat products.

A Quick Note on the Locals (Don’t Be Shy!)

The absolute best part about traveling through Ecuador and Peru are the people. Locals here are incredibly friendly, kind and always ready to help you. Because of that, please don’t feel shy to ask for vegan options or take your time explaining exactly what you can and cannot eat. They will almost always try to find a solution for you and are genuinely happy to help! If a mistake happens and your order comes out wrong, just stay patient and explain it again.

My Favorite Memory: We once found ourselves completely in the middle of nowhere, super hungry, with only one restaurant in sight. The owner was an 80-year-old grandpa who didn’t speak English, but was determined to find something edible for us. When he finally figured out that he could make us a plate of fries, rice and a fresh salad, he was so excited.

My Itinerary: Favourite Restaurants & Honorable Vegan Finds

Now for the most exciting part! I’ve mapped out my exact itinerary, combined with all the incredible food spots I discovered along the way, so you don’t have to spend hours searching for safe options. I’m honestly so excited to share these with you, because some of these meals were next-level delicious. Let’s start with my favourite finds in Ecuador, before we cross the border to Peru!

Ecuador

Quito

– The Secret Garden Quito (Hostel Rooftop Bar & Restaurant)

The Secret Garden Quito – Hostelworld 

• Must-Try: Avocado Toast
  
• My thoughts: This was the hostel we stayed in and it was incredible (you seriously need to do the free city walking tour with them, it was easily one of the best tours I’ve ever attended – you can find the link above). The rooftop terrace is the ultimate highlight here. It features an insane view over the city, cozy ponchos if it gets cold and great food. While the menu isn’t packed with vegan options, you’ll definitely find something satisfying, especially for breakfast!
  

– Actavico Café – Un Lugar Con Alma

• Must-Try: Baked Zucchini (Ask for the vegan option, they swap the cheese for cauliflower)
  
• My thoughts: This is a vegan and vegetarian-friendly café with wonderful vibes. The space itself is charming, spread across two bright and colorful floors with unique little artistic details everywhere. They even creatively present the menu in the style of a local newspaper!
  

– Pizzeria Boschetti

• Must-Try: Pizza Vegetariana (ordered sin queso!)
  
• My thoughts: This was another fun and heartwarming experience. Since the kitchen is completely open, you get to watch exactly how your food is made while chatting with the chef. We even got asked to do a challenge where you have to hang from a pull-up bar for two minutes to win a free beer! They don’t have a vegan cheese option on the menu, so get ready for a bit of judgment when you order your pizza sin queso. He will absolutely still make it, but he will tease you a little bit for it.
  

– Los Jugos de la Sucre

• Must-Try: Exotic fruit juices (like taxo or guayaba) and a humita
  
• My thoughts: This traditional local shop uses filtered water, making it perfect for tourists to try unique Ecuadorian fruit juices safely. We had a classic miscommunication here: our guide said they had vegan empanadas, but the plantain one (empanada de verde) we ordered turned out to be filled with chicken! When we explained the mistake, the lady kindly swapped it for a humita – a savory, steamed corn mash wrapped in a husk that tasted like polenta. It was so good!

Mindo

– Taco Verde

• Must-Try: Vegan Tacos
  
• My thoughts: This spot is a little bit more pricey for Ecuador, but it is incredibly flavorful. The taco shells themselves were actually made of plantain and the toppings were refreshing with a great mix of crisp veggies and fresh fruit. They also added specific beans for protein.

– El Hornerito

• Must-Try: Vegan Empanadas
  
• My thoughts: This is officially one of my top two favourite places to get vegan empanadas. It was shockingly good. I would honestly do anything to go back right now and eat another one. As a bonus, they also had fresh lemonade available completely without sugar, which was exciting after all the sweet fruit juice I had been consuming!

– Fuera de Babilonia

• Must-Try: Vegan Empanadas
  
• My thoughts: This is my second favourite spot for vegan empanadas. The restaurant was located right on the walking path to our hostel and the staff sweetly greeted us every single time we passed by. It has a very wholesome, welcoming family vibe. The people are the absolute sweetest and the food is comforting, especially since they bake everything in a traditional stone oven.

Cotopaxi

– Cuscungo Hostel & Lodge

Cuscungo Cotopaxi – Hostelworld

• Must-Try: Whatever family-style meal gets served to you!
  
• My thoughts: We didn’t stay too long in the area, so we ended up eating our meals right at the hostel. When you check in, you can let them know that you’re vegan and they will completely customise their menu for you. Everyone sits and eats together at the exact same time, which was so much fun because we got to know the other travellers really well.

Baños

– Erupcion Art Hotel & Hostel

Erupcion Art Hotel & Hostel – Hostelworld

• Must-Try: The included hostel breakfast
  
• My thoughts: They serve a pretty solid free hostel breakfast, just make sure to tell them you’re vegan and they’ll bring out a really tasty bun with avocado and sometimes a fresh fruit salad. We also had dinner at their restaurant once. I got super excited because the menu listed tofu, but it turned out they were out of it. Instead, they made us a quinoa bowl with a side salad which was lowkey really good! Definitely make sure to check out their rooftop bar while you’re there too.
  

Peru

Máncora

– Palmeras – Eco Tienda y Café

• Must-Try: Healthy Snickers Bowl and Avocado Toast
  
• My thoughts: This right here is the ultimate hidden gem. It was literally the absolute best café I tried during this entire trip! Almost everything on the menu is fully vegan and the rest is vegetarian. It’s located a little bit further back from the beach, so it might not be as well-known to the main crowds, but this place completely has my heart. The food was incredibly delicious. I would do anything to try that snickers bowl again!
  

– The Point Máncora – Beach & Party Hostel

The Point Mancora Beach – Hostelworld

• Must-Try: Vegan Burger
  
• My thoughts: Just a quick warning: I would not recommend staying here if you actually want to sleep, since they play incredibly loud party music until about 4:00 AM. However, the hostel has an on-site restaurant that actually has great vegan options. I really enjoyed the food here and the vegan burger was a total winner!
  

Lima

– Ancestral Hostel & Bar

Ancestral Hostel Barranco – Hostelworld

• Must-Try: Vegan Cookie and a Custom Veggie Sandwich
  
• My thoughts: Sorry for all the hostel recommendations, but this is another one and probably the best of them all! It doubles as a restaurant and it’s actually quite elegant. I couldn’t find the exact sandwich we had on the menu anymore (maybe we just ordered a standard veggie one without the cheese), but it was excellent. Also, finding a good vegan cookie made me incredibly happy!
  

– Seitan Urban Bistro

• Must-Try: Carrot Cake, Cauliflower Wings and Tofu with Rice
  
• My thoughts: This place was absolute paradise. Finally a restaurant with a 100% fully vegan menu! The selection was huge, which actually made the decision a bit difficult. It was so nice to finally get high-protein meals that were genuinely satisfying. To make it even better, the staff was incredibly sweet and even gave us a free slice of carrot cake on the house!
  

Paracas / Ica / Huacachina

– Panes Don Roberto

• Must-Try: Freshly baked bread
  
• My thoughts: We visited here during a day trip to Paracas, Ica and Huacachina. In the morning, we actually brought our own breakfast because we weren’t sure if our first stop would have any vegan options. Funnily enough, they did offer a vegan option and the warm, fresh bread smelled absolutely amazing!

– Hotel Bodega El Huarango

• Must-Try: The customised vegan lunch plate
  
• My thoughts: This is a winery hotel where we stopped to eat (I think a lot of the standard day tours bring their groups here). Very tasty!
  

Cusco

– Bakery and Coffee Organika

• Must-Try: Apple Cinnamon Quinoa “Soup” & Coca Tea
  
• My thoughts: This is a charming, cozy café and they even have a resident cat! They have a few great vegan options. I don’t remember the name of my dish, but I expected something thick like a porridge. Turned out as a soup haha. It was incredibly flavourful and the perfect warming meal for our very first morning while we were struggling with the high altitude. Pairing it with a traditional coca tea was the perfect cure!
  

– Eulalio Café Cusco

• Must-Try: Avocado on Sourdough & a Chai Latte
  
• My thoughts: Another really lovely café. They served up one of the absolute best avocado on sourdough breads I had during the entire trip (and yes, avocado toast was definitely my ultimate go-to meal). The chai latte here was also perfectly spiced.
  

– Vida Vegan Bistro

• Must-Try: Chips de Maíz con Guacamole
  
• My thoughts: This is another 100% fully vegan restaurant, which meant facing the ultimate paradox of choice again! Everything on the menu looked great, but the homemade tortilla chips completely stole the show. They were perfectly crunchy and paired with a rich, creamy guacamole.

– El Jardín

• Must-Try: Walnut Brownie
  
• My thoughts: I specifically came to this spot just for the brownie and it did not disappoint! It was fudgy and paired perfectly with a creamy coffee flavoured vegan ice cream. We actually walked there twice because after our first meal I was too full for a brownie, but I refused to leave Cusco without trying it. In the end I was so glad that we went back!
  

– Delirium Restaurante

• Must-Try: Vegan Lomo Saltado
• My thoughts: This place is a little hidden, but so sweet inside. I ordered a pasta dish with tofu, but my friend tried the Vegan Lomo Saltado and it was surprisingly delicious. Lomo Saltado is a classic, traditional beef stir-fry in Peru, so it was amazing to find a spot that recreates it perfectly for vegans.
  

– Mercado Típico San Blas – Green Falafel

• Must-Try: Mega Vegano Pita Falafel
  
• My thoughts: Located right inside of a market. The pita pocket is loaded with fresh ingredients and they give you a massive amount of food for an excellent price!
  

– Black Llama Hostel

Black Llama Hostel Cusco – Hostelworld

• Must-Try: Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bowl & a Matcha Latte
  
• My thoughts: The hostel itself is awesome, but their on-site café is even better. They have a fantastic menu with really wholesome choices. I absolutely loved their peanut butter oatmeal bowl loaded with fresh fruits. Also, I highly recommend ordering a matcha latte here, it was officially the best matcha of my entire trip!
  

– El Encuentro

• Must-Try: Delicia de Brócoli
  
• My thoughts: This dish is a fantastic broccoli stir-fry served with rice and perfectly cooked tofu. It was easily one of my favourite meals in Cusco. The restaurant is entirely vegetarian and vegan-friendly with a massive menu. They even have a little starter salad buffet included where everything is 100% vegan!

Salkantay Trek & Machu Picchu

– The 5-Day Salkantay Trek

5-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: Classic Guided Hike – Tripadvisor

• Must-Try: The amazing food prepared by the trail cooks!
  
• My thoughts: I hiked the 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu and being vegan on this trail was absolutely the easiest thing ever! I simply shared my dietary restrictions with the tour company at the very beginning and the cooks always prepared separate and incredibly hearty vegan options for me at every single campsite.
  

For a complete breakdown of daily meals, what to pack and how to survive the high altitude, you can check out my detailed guide right here: Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu: What It’s Really Like.

Well, this turned out a lot longer than expected! I truly hope you can use this itinerary to track down some of these incredible food spots yourself.

Being vegan in Ecuador and Peru definitely takes a bit of effort, patience and dedication. But it is absolutely doable. With a little bit of communication (and a lot of asking for things sin queso), you will end up finding some of the most delicious, memorable and authentic meals you could ever wish for.

South America is waiting for you and trust me… you definitely won’t go hungry!