Eating Vegetarian In Latin America - Is It Possible?

 

It’s no secret, Latinos love meat. Argentina vacations will present you with doorstop-thick steaks, Peru vacations with roasted cuy (guinea pig). Every country in Latin America seems to bring its plates to the table with a portion of meat included. If you’re a vegetarian traveller, does this mean it will be impossible to travel in Latin America without having to eat meat?

Difficult, but not impossible
The good news is that plenty of options exist for vegetarians especially in tourist hot spots such as Cusco, near Machu Picchu. A plant-based diet is actually the staple food of Latin America – the Inca Empire, for example, was based around corn culture. Markets all over the continent are bursting with fresh fruits and vegetables, far cheaper than any meat alternatives.

Things to make your life easier
If you want to travel successfully as a vegetarian, here are some suggestions to make life easier.

1) Bring your own supplies as backup
Without loading your suitcase with kilos of tofu, you can at least bring a selection of vegetarian snacks to keep hunger at bay when you’re out and about. Primal Strips are the meat-free version of beef jerky and there are a wide range of protein and cereal bars available .

2) Research restaurants in destination
Especially around popular tourist destinations such as Cusco, Antigua or Buenos Aires, you’ll be sure to find options for vegetarians. The website www.happycow.net has a list of vegetarian restaurants and health food stores globally, so you can check out options for eating before arriving in your travel destination.

3) The language barrier
There may be options for vegetarians, but many restaurant staff will be steeped in a culture of meat-eating. Before you leave try to learn the words for “fish”, “chicken”, meat”, “dairy products” and “eggs”. It’s also good to know that the Spanish translation for vegetarian is “vegetariano”, so you’ll eventually be understood if you patiently explain your situation to the waiter.

Be careful with asking for dishes without meat. The translation for meat is “carne”, which normally just refers to red meat, so you could still end up faced with a plate of chicken! Explain fully what your requirements are, as it’s possible that your waiter has never heard of vegetarianism before...

4) Consider travel with a tour company
If there’s one thing tour companies are used to, it’s satisfying a wide range of dietary requirements. It would be useful to state what you can or cannot eat when asking for a tour quote, especially if booking a trek like the Inca Trail or similar active excursion. A tour company with years experience in a certain location will have good links to restaurants and options that are considerate of vegetarians. This way you’ll be able to avoid the possibility of eating rice and beans for your whole trip!

Have you travelled in any countries where it was difficult as a vegetarian? What advice can you give to vegetarians travelling in Latin America?

 

Author: Gary Sargent - Escaped to Peru / Escaped to Latin America