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Mexico is known for meaty tacos and pristine beaches, but there’s so much more to this gorgeous and diverse country! As a long-time vegetarian (now vegan) and avid traveler, I’m always on the lookout for vegetarian-friendly spots. My travels have been centered in Mexico for the past year. I’ve been privileged to visit dozens of charming Mexican destinations—from sleepy beach towns to bustling cities. Here is my vegan and vegetarian Mexico guide to help you on your next adventure!
This is a guest post written by Annie Blay from Your Friend The Nomad. Annie spent the past six years jumping around the Pacific Northwest and living abroad in places like Italy, Palestine, and Mexico. On her blog, she loves to share her favorite travel destinations and vegan travel recommendations.
Mushroom-stuffed Chile Relleno with vegan cheese, guacamole, and refried beans.
Traveling as a vegan or vegetarian in Mexico is so much easier than you might think. You can easily find meat-free twists on traditional Mexican cuisine in many cities. Think fresh corn tortillas filled with housemade soy meat, flavor-packed salsa, and a generous squeeze of lime juice. You can also find incredible international food, from vegan ramen to delectable plant-based pizza.
This guide details 20 of the most incredible destinations for vegetarians in Mexico. If you’re trying to decide where to travel next, keep reading! Mexico has something for everyone.
Wholesome Sopa Azteca in Mexico City topped with crispy tortilla chips, vegan Mexican sour cream, and chiles.
Mexico City is easily one of the most overlooked places in Mexico. Most tourists head to Mexico’s stunning beach towns (for good reason), but miss out on the country’s best food by skipping cities like Mexico City and Oaxaca City.
Mexico City is undoubtedly the most vegetarian and vegan friendly city in the country, with dozens of plant-based restaurants. One of my favorite restaurants in Mexico City Fresh & Co., a plant-forward vegetarian restaurant that focuses on wholesome spins on Mexican dishes. Meanwhile, my husband loves Mexico City’s meaty vegan street tacos, especially the ones at Gracias Madre street food cart.
Recommended restaurants for vegetarians in Mexico City: Fresh & Co., Gracias Madre Vegan Street Food, Vegan Ramen Mei.
Things to do in Mexico City: People watch and relax in Parque México, float down ancient canals with a group of friends on a Xochimilco tour, visit the National Archaeological Museum, see the Zócalo (main square) and cathedral, and visit the Frida Kahlo Museum.
Day trips from Mexico City: Teotihuacan archaeological ruins, Puebla, and Tepoztlán.
Puerto Escondido is a vegetarian-friendly Mexican city with gorgeous beaches
Depending on who you ask, Puerto Escondido is either described as a hidden gem or a tourist hotspot. Whatever it is, Puerto Escondido is one of my favorite places in the country, with stunning beaches, world-class surf, a friendly local vibe, and delicious vegetarian food.
This beach town on Oaxaca’s coast mostly attracts European surfers, backpackers, and budget travelers. With no direct flights from the U.S., few Americans make it to Puerto Escondido. If you make the trek to Puerto Escondido, you’ll fall in love with the town’s stunning beaches and delicious food.
Recommended restaurants: No Mames, Cocofam, and YA’AB Vegan Kitchen.
Things to do in Puerto Escondido: Spend a day at Playa Carrizalillo, watch surfers at Playa Zicatela, swim with hundreds of dolphins in the wild (with an ethical boat tour), and partner with a local nonprofit to release baby sea turtles.
Day trips from Puerto Escondido: Mazunte, Zipolite, and Barra de Navidad.
If you’re really looking to slow down, an island is the perfect spot to visit. My favorite island in Mexico is Cozumel, which is a short ferry ride away from Playa del Carmen. Despite its proximity to mainland Mexico and its long history as a tourist destination, Cozumel is incredibly peaceful, quiet, and safe. It’s one of the best places to go for an easy and rewarding beach vacation.
Since the island is so small, you can easily explore it all in a few hours with a scooter or car. One side of the island has calm, crystal clear water and the other side has beautiful, powerful waves. Unlike other nearby Mexican beach destinations like Tulum and Cancun, most of Cozumel’s coastline is easily accessible (and free). The reefs surrounding Cozumel have some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world.
The island’s main town, San Miguel, is home to a handful of vegetarian and vegan restaurants, and plenty of regular restaurants are vegetarian friendly. If you stay in town, you’ll be within walking distance of these restaurants, and a short drive away from pristine beaches with crystal-clear water.
Recommended restaurants: Sol de Maple, Nutty Threesome, and Paradise Vegan.
Things to do in Cozumel: Drive around the island on a scooter, learn about the island’s history at the Cozumel Museum, go on a snorkel or scuba diving expedition, relax at the beach, and visit Mayan ruins.
Day trips from Cozumel: Cenotes near Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Bacalar, and Valladolid.
Oaxaca de Juaraz’s charming colonial streets
I’ve always been a beach girl, so I never thought I’d say this, but Oaxaca City is my new favorite place in Mexico. Located in the state of Oaxaca, Oaxaca City (also referred to as Oaxaca or Oaxaca de Juaraz) is a charming colonial city that’s considered to be Mexico’s food and cultural capital. And thankfully, vegans and vegetarians don’t have to miss out on Oaxaca’s delicious and culturally-significant cuisine.
Oaxaca, Mexico and Mexican vegan street food
Indulging in Oaxaca’s famous seven flavors of mole is one of the best things to do in Oaxaca. You can order a mole tasting—along with dozens of other traditional dishes—at Hierba Dulce, one of Oaxaca’s vegan restaurants. Within an hour or two of Oaxaca City, you can explore ancient Zapotec ruins, bathe in turquoise blue swimming pools in Santiago Apoala, tour mezcal distilleries, visit traditional weaving factories, and swim in natural infinity pools at Hierve el Agua.
Recommended restaurants: Hierba Dulce, Herbívora, and La Selva Los Gatos.
Things to do in Oaxaca: Take a vegetarian cooking class, visit local art galleries, shop for artisan goods, try Oaxacan hot chocolate, and visit the city’s Jardín Etnobotánico garden.
Day trips from Oaxaca: Santiago Apoala, Mitla, and Hierve el Agua.
Nestled in the lush green mountains in the state of Chiapas, San Cristóbal de Las Casas (San Cristobal or SanCris for short) is another historic city in Mexico. San Cristobal feels smaller, and almost more intimate than Oaxaca City, but has the same colonial charm. San Cristobal town attracts conscious travelers and expats from around the world, and now has several vegan and vegetarian restaurants.
One thing that makes San Cristobal different from most of the places on this list is the weather. Since it’s located at 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level, it gets quite cold in the fall and winter. If you’re planning on stopping in San Cristobal during a Mexico trip, make sure you pack layers!
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in San Cristobal: Te Quiero Verde, ART Libreria, and Casa Jasmine.
Things to do in San Cristobal: Wander down Calle Real de Guadalupe (San Cristobal’s pedestrian street), take the city’s free walking tour, shop for locally embroidered textiles at fair trade shops like Artisan2You and Maya Kotan Textiles, and climb the stairs to San Cristobalito Church and Guadalupe Church.
Day trips from San Cristobal: Boat tour through Sumidero Canyon, El Chiflon, and San Juan de Chamula.
Stunning Playa Balandra in La Paz, a beautiful destination for vegetarians in Mexico
Just two hours from Los Cabos, La Paz is an up-and-coming ecotourism destination perfect for vegetarian and eco-conscious travelers. La Paz means “the peace” in Spanish. The city resembles its name with a slow-paced culture and some most beautiful beaches in Mexico.
La Paz doesn’t feel like a touristy city, and besides ecotourism experiences, it doesn’t really cater to tourists. But as someone who loves nature and Mexican culture, La Paz was a perfect city. You can sit on uncrowded white sandy beaches along the city’s Malecon (boardwalk) and wade into the water, or drive a few minutes out of town and spend a day at jaw-droppingly beautiful beaches.
Within a few hours, you can visit stunning waterfalls, hot springs, sand dunes, and beach towns along both the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California. La Paz doesn’t have as many vegetarian and vegan restaurants as cities like Mexico City and Tulum, but to me, it’s worth a visit nonetheless.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in La Paz: Planeta Veggie, Gaia Comida Vegana, and Capuchino Café.
Things to do in La Paz: Visit Playa Balandra (considered the most beautiful beach in Mexico), book an ecotourism experience to swim with whale sharks or sea lions, hike Cerro de La Calavera, and spend a day at one of La Paz’s beautiful beaches.
Day trips from La Paz: Todos Santos, Santa Rita Hot Springs, and Cañon del Zorro Waterfall.
Beautiful Bacalar Lagoon, a hidden gem for vegan and vegetarian travelers
Instagram influencers call Bacalar the “Maldives of Mexico” and even the “next Tulum.” I’m not sure if either of these statements are true, but I know that Bacalar is definitely a place to add to your bucket list.
Dubbed the lagoon of seven colors, Bacalar lagoon is a beautiful freshwater lake with several shades of water, ranging from neon green to turquoise. The small town of Bacalar is located on the edge of the lake, and is one of Mexico’s official pueblo magicos (magic towns). The city of Bacalar has taken some serious measures to protect the lagoon, including banning the use of motor boats on certain days of the week, and disallowing the use of sunscreen in the lagoon.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Bacalar: Mango y Chile, Agni Vital Kitchen, and Mr. Taco.
Things to do in Bacalar: Take a boat tour on the lagoon, swim in Bacalar lagoon, swim in Bacalar’s cenotes, and float down Los Rapidos (a natural lazy river).
Day trips from Bacalar: Valladolid, Chetumal (Mexico) and Corozal (Belize), and the Mayan ruins at Kohunlich and Dzibanche.
Valladolid is a vibrant colonial city located inland in the state of Yucatan. The town is only a few hours from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum, but it has a completely different feel. The colorful colonial-style Centro is reminiscent of some of the other Mexican cities like Oaxaca and San Cristobal de las Casas. However, unlike most other colonial cities, Valladolid is in a tropical climate, with some of the most famous cenotes in Mexico nearby.
In addition, Valladolid is close to one of Mexico’s most famous archaeological sites, Chichen Itza. Although over two million people visit nearby Chichen Itza every year, few international visitors spend time in charming Valladolid. Valladolid only has a handful of vegetarian and vegan restaurants but is still a vegetarian-friendly small town.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Valladolid: La Yaqueria, Elela, and Le’ Kaat
Things to do in Valladolid: Wander through the town’s vibrant colonial streets, swim in the town’s Cenote Zaci (natural sinkhole), and visit the San Bernardo Convent.
Day trips from Valladolid: Cenote Suytun, Izamal, and Chichen Itza.
Floating down the Muyil River, right outside of Tulum, Mexico
Tulum is a rapidly growing tourism hub just a few hours south of Cancun. Once a small town, Tulum now attracts over a million visitors each year. And there are certainly reasons why Tulum is so popular. Dozens of gorgeous cenotes (natural sinkholes) surround Tulum, and the city is home to one free cenote, Cenote Aldea Zama. In addition, Tulum is right outside of Sian Kaan, one of Quintana Roo’s most breathtaking nature reserves, where you can see marine wildlife, visit Mayan ruins, and do the Muyil river float down a Mayan canal.
A fruteria in Tulum, Mexico
Because of its proximity to nature, Tulum attracts a conscious hippie crowd. But unfortunately, greenwashing is common and the income divide between Mexicans and foreigners is striking. I spent a month and a half living in Tulum, and have many mixed feelings about the place. I absolutely love the nature that surrounds Tulum, but I’m not crazy about the town itself. Still, it’s a great home base for visitors hoping to explore the beautiful state of Quintana Roo and be in proximity to plenty of vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Tulum: La Hoja Verde, El Bajon, and Burbuja Para Conejos.
Things to do in Tulum: Swim in turquoise blue cenotes (natural sinkholes), relax at a rooftop pool, spend a day at the beach, explore the beach road via scooter, wander through the Tulum Mayan ruins, and ride a bike around town.
Day trips from Tulum: Muyil river float, Coba Mayan ruins, and Xcacel beach.
Darling local neighborhoods in Puerto Vallarta, tucked beneath lush jungle
I spent five weeks working remotely from Puerto Vallarta and enjoyed the city way more than I expected. Puerto Vallarta is famous for its resorts, which primarily attract tourists from the west coast of the U.S. and Canada. But Puerto Vallarta is so much more than a resort destination. It’s a thriving Mexican city situated between lush jungle and the Pacific Ocean.
Puerto Vallarta has a charming Zona Romantica (Romantic Zone) and downtown area with dozens of delicious vegetarian and vegan spots. Besides yummy Mexican food, Puerto Vallarta has some incredible veggie international cuisine. For instance, one of the city’s vegetarian restaurants, Veggitalia, is a pizzeria owned by an Italian chef and they serve the best pizza I’ve ever had outside of Italy. In addition, Vegan Ramen Mei has some delicious vegan twists on Asian cuisine.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Puerto Vallarta: Veggitalia, 100% Vegan Taqueria, and Vegan Ramen Mei.
Things to do in Puerto Vallarta: Relax at a Puerto Vallarta beach club, wander down the Malecon (boardwalk) at sunset, hike to the Mirador de La Cruz, and snorkel at Los Arcos.
Day trips from Puerto Vallarta: Get a day pass at Xinalani (a vegetarian yoga retreat only accessible via boat), take a boat tour to the Marietas Islands, and visit Yelapa.
Sayulita is one of the most popular beach towns in Mexico for backpackers, located between Puerto Vallarta and San Pancho. It’s one of the best places in Mexico to learn to surf, but still has swimmable beaches for non-surfers. While Sayulita has very few vegetarian and vegan restaurants, it is home to plenty of eateries with plant-based menu items.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Sayulita: 100% Vegana Taqueria 2, Organic-K, and Restaurant Yeikame.
Things to do in Sayulita: Take a surfing lesson, hike to Playa Malpaso, spend a day at Playa Los Muertos, get a $20 beachfront massage, and explore boutique shops.
Day trips from Sayulita: San Pancho, Marietas Islands, and Puerto Vallarta.
Playa del Carmen is a popular digital nomad hotspot between Cancun and Tulum. In fact, the bustling Mexican beach town feels like a mix between Cancun and Tulum.
Playa del Carmen is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in Mexico, with dozens of vegan and vegetarian restaurants. In addition to a generous selection of plant-based eateries, Playa del Carmen is home to stunning nature.
The downtown area is stretched out along the Caribbean Ocean, with Crystal clear blue water. Dozens of turquoise blue cenotes are within a few minutes of town.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Playa del Carmen: Comet 984, Corazon Contento PDC, and Tierra Verde.
Things to do in Playa del Carmen: Swim in nearby cenotes, wander through the colorful streets of the city, go snorkeling and scuba diving, and spend a day at the beach.
Day trips from Playa del Carmen: Cozumel, Muyil river float, and Bacalar.
Located in the state of Jalisco, Guadalajara is famous for mariachi music and tequila. It’s Mexico’s second largest city after Mexico City. Though not as vegan-friendly as Mexico City, Guadalajara is home to dozens of vegetarian and vegan restaurants.
Guadalajara is a less-touristy destination. Visiting gives you a glimpse into Mexican life and culture beyond the typical tourist hotspots.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Guadalajara: La Flaca, La Vegana Garnacha, and Jia Xiang Tofu.
Things to do in Guadalajara: Experience mariachi bands at La Plaza de Los Mariachis, visit the city’s many towering colonial churches, and take the Tequila train.
Day trips from Guadalajara: Tequila, Lake Chapula, and Tlaquepaque.
Playa Malpaso, one of the most beautiful beaches near San Pancho and Sayulita
If you’re looking to spend some time by the beach in a conscious, welcoming small town, check out San Pancho. Just over an hour north of Puerto Vallarta, San Pancho is located in the state of Nariyat along the Pacific Coast. It’s ten minutes away from Sayulita, a popular backpacker destination. Between the two, I prefer San Pancho, though it’s smaller, more rustic, and has less things to do. But if you want to disconnect and relax while still being in close proximity to larger towns, San Pancho is the perfect place.
I’ve had the privilege of visiting San Pancho twice and I’ve loved every second I’ve spent there. The beach is large and fairly uncrowded, besides the area near the main entrance, where a few beach bars are located. San Pancho has restaurants with a diversity of cuisines and decent vegetarian options. As a vegan, I think I would get bored of the food options after a few days if I wasn’t cooking at my hotel, but there are more options for vegetarians. And Sayulita is only ten minutes away.
One thing to be aware of is that the waves at San Pancho are powerful and fairly large. It’s not the most swimmable beach, but it’s a great spot for surfing if you have experience. Nearby beaches in Sayulita are better for swimming. If you can sacrifice swimming in the ocean, a beach trip to San Pancho is so worth it!
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in San Pancho: Organic-K, Yum Yum, and Yasmina’s.
Things to do in San Pancho: Relax at the beach, rent a surfboard for the day, bird watch in the estuary, and hike to Playa Malpaso.
Day trips from San Pancho: Islas Mariettas, Sayulita, and Puerto Vallarta.
Monterrey is easily one of the most underrated destinations in Mexico. Located in the state of Nuevo Leon, Monterrey is just about three hours from the U.S./Mexico border. There are dozens of hikes and other outdoor activities in the region surrounding Monterrey, and plenty to do in the city as well.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Monterrey: VeganMunch, Vida Atemporal, and Shiva Station.
Things to do in Monterrey: Walk along the Santa Lucia Riverwalk, overlook the city at Mirador del Obispado, wander around Barrio Antiguo
Day trips from Monterrey: Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, Cuatro Ciénegas, and Termas de San Joaquin.
The cute colorful streets of Todos Santos, a picturesque town in Mexico for plant-based travelers
Supposedly home to the famous “Hotel California,” Todos Santos is a cute surf town on the Pacific Coast of Baja California Sur. Nestled between harsh dry desert landscapes and the captivating ocean, Todos Santos is a relaxed town that attracts visitors and expats from around the world. Nearby Cerritos Beach is one of the best surfing beaches in Baja California, and Todos Santos itself is home to several stunning beaches.
The town has several vegetarian and vegan restaurants, along with plenty of vegetarian-friendly spots. One of my favorite places in town is Alma y Manny, a regular restaurant with some incredible veggie options. Their vegan chile relleno is one of the best dishes I’ve tasted in Mexico.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Todos Santos: Moon Friendly Kitchen, Alma y Manny, and Pura Vida.
Things to do in Todos Santos: Hike Punto Lobos, take a surf lesson, see the Hotel California, spend a day at the beach, wander through the Cielito Lindo Market.
Day trips from Todos Santos: La Paz, Santa Rita Hot Springs, and Cañon del Zorro Waterfall.
The capital of the state of Yucatan, Merida is another underrated Mexican city that few tourists explore. Just a few hours away from Cancun, Merida is a large city with plenty of vegetarian restaurants and lots of things to do.
Though I prefer smaller towns, Merida is a great destination for vegetarians in Mexico seeking a larger city with a thriving plant-based community. It’s also a great home base to explore some hidden gem towns in the surrounding area.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Merida: Plants of Wonder, Crush, and Organico.
Things to do in Merida: Take the city’s free walking tour, explore Merida’s many colonial churches, buy artisan-made gifts at Casa de las Artesanías de Yucatán, and take a cooking class.
Day trips from Merida: Cuzamá cenotes, Progresso Beach, and Izamal.
Santiago de Querétaro (Querétaro for short) is a bustling city in central Mexico. The charming city center is declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for its aqueduct, which is used to supply the city with water from nearby springs. Like all the other large cities in this article, Queretaro has a diversity of plant-based eateries.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Querétaro: Tacogreen, Buena Vida, and Suwa Restaurante Vegano.
Things to do in Querétaro: See the aqueduct, visit the city’s famous churches, and wander through the historic center.
Day trips from Querétaro: Peña del Bernal, Querétaro wine region, and San Miguel de Allende.
I spent a few days in Cancun on my way back from Bacalar and was actually surprised by how few vegan options were available in the city. The most delicious veggie food I found was at La Casa de Las Mayoras, a non-vegan restaurant with plenty of vegetarian and vegan options that relies on traditional recipes.
Most visitors stay at beachfront resorts. If you don’t have a resort booked, you can enjoy the ocean at one of the few public beaches, such as Playa del Nino. But the best things to do in Cancun are day trips to nearby cenotes, islands, and cute neighboring towns.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Cancun: La Casa de Las Mayoras, BaoVegan, and Gopals.
Things to do in Cancun: Relax at the beach, explore downtown Cancun, and go on a snorkeling tour.
Day trips from Cancun: Isla Mujeres, Cozumel, and Puerto Morelos.
Isla Mujeres is a small island off the coast of Cancun. Easily accessible by a short ferry, Isla Mujeres makes a great day trip from Cancun, or a great place to stay for a weeklong vacation.
The island is small enough to explore by golf cart, and the beaches are spectacular (though crowded). Like with Cancun, I was disappointed by the lack of vegan and vegetarian options on Isla Mujeres. However, there are enough plant-based options on the island to get by.
Top 3 restaurants for vegetarians in Isla Mujeres: Mango Cafe, El Meraki, and Aroma Isla.
Things to do in Isla Mujeres: Wade in the crystal-clear water, spend a day at Playa Norte, drive to the Ixchel Mayan ruins at Punta Sur, scuba dive at the MUSA underwater museum, and snorkel with marine wildlife.
Day trips from Isla Mujeres: Cancun, Puerto Morelos, and Valladolid.
Vegan tacos Baja at Gluck, a plant-based restaurant in Oaxaca, Mexico
I hope this article has broken the assumption that you can’t enjoy good food in Mexico if you don’t eat meat. Whether you are vegan or vegetarian, or simply enjoy incorporating plant-based foods in your diet, you’ll find mouth-wateringly delicious veggie-forward food in many cities and towns throughout Mexico.
ENJOY!
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Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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