Vegetarian and Vegan Food in Cusco
Cusco is an easier place to eat vegetarian or vegan than many travellers expect. Andean cooking is built on potatoes, corn, grains and beans, and the city has plenty of restaurants with clearly marked plant-based dishes. Here is what to order, which words to know, and how to eat well on a trek.
Andean dishes to look for
| Dish | What it is | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Sopa de quinua | Quinoa soup with vegetables | Ask if the stock is meat-based |
| Choclo con queso | Large-kernel Andean corn with fresh cheese | Vegans: ask for it without cheese |
| Papa a la huancaína | Potatoes in a creamy yellow-pepper sauce | The sauce has cheese and milk; often served with egg |
| Causa | Layered cold potato cake with avocado and vegetables | Often contains mayonnaise or chicken; ask for a vegetable version |
| Solterito | Salad of broad beans, corn, onion, tomato and cheese | Vegans: without cheese |
| Tarwi | Andean lupin beans, high in protein, in salads or stews | Usually plant-based |
Plant-based ingredients from the Andes
The Andes are one of the world’s great centres of crop domestication. Look for native potatoes in every colour, quinoa, kiwicha (amaranth) and cañihua, broad beans, giant corn, avocados and an enormous range of fruit in the markets. To drink, chicha morada, made from purple corn, is plant-based, and coca tea, the local remedy for altitude, is simply leaves and hot water.
Tell us your diet when you book
Our trek cooks prepare vegetarian and vegan menus on request — on the Classic Inca Trail and our other multi-day treks.
Where to eat
Cusco has dedicated vegetarian and vegan restaurants, many of them in the San Blas neighbourhood and around the historic centre, and most tourist restaurants mark vegetarian options on the menu. For a quick, cheap meal, the San Pedro Market has fresh juices, fruit and simple dishes; see our guide to Cusco’s markets. Our Cusco food guide covers the local cuisine more broadly.
Eating plant-based on tours and treks
On multi-day treks such as the Inca Trail or Salkantay, a cook prepares every meal, and vegetarian or vegan menus are routine when requested in advance. Tell us your diet and any allergies when you book, so the cook can plan and buy accordingly. Expect soups, quinoa, rice, pasta, vegetables and fresh fruit. Bring some protein-rich snacks of your own, such as nuts or bars, for long days at altitude.
On day tours with a buffet lunch, such as the Sacred Valley, there are always vegetable dishes, salads and potatoes.
Useful phrases
- Soy vegetariano / vegetariana — I am vegetarian.
- Soy vegano / vegana — I am vegan.
- Sin carne, sin pollo, sin pescado — without meat, chicken or fish. Some people do not consider chicken “meat”, so say it explicitly.
- Sin queso, sin huevo, sin leche — without cheese, egg or milk.
- ¿El caldo es de verduras? — Is the stock vegetable-based?
Tips for plant-based travellers
- Eat enough at altitude: your body needs energy, and under-eating makes altitude symptoms worse.
- Ask about soups: many are made with meat or chicken stock.
- Carry snacks for long drives and early starts.
- Drink bottled or filtered water, and wash fruit or choose fruit you can peel; our altitude guide has more health tips.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Andean food is based on potatoes, corn, grains and beans, and Cusco has many restaurants with vegetarian and vegan dishes, especially around San Blas and the centre.
Yes. Tell us when you book and the trek cook will prepare vegan meals. Bring a few protein snacks as a backup.
Quinoa soup, choclo con queso, papa a la huancaína, solterito and vegetable causa are common options. Always check for meat stock, egg or chicken.
“Soy vegetariano” (or vegetariana). For vegan, “soy vegano” (or vegana). Add “sin carne, sin pollo” to be clear.
Yes. It is simply coca leaves in hot water.
