South America has quietly become one of the more surprising continents for plant based travel, with strong local produce and a fast growing vegan restaurant scene in its bigger cities.
Coastal cities and capitals tend to have the most developed vegan food scenes, with dedicated restaurants, juice bars and markets full of fresh produce making daily eating easy. Andean countries offer a different strength, since traditional dishes built around potatoes, corn, beans and grains are often naturally plant based, even outside dedicated vegan spots. In more rural or remote areas, options thin out quickly, so some flexibility and a few local phrases help a lot when eating out.
Fresh fruit and vegetables are rarely hard to find anywhere on the continent, even where a fully vegan menu is not. The destinations on our list for South America combine established vegan hubs with places where traditional food already leans plant based.
