Taking a vacation doesn’t have to mean losing good habits. Cusco and the Sacred Valley’s dining scene includes a range of vegan and healthy restaurants that will help visitors maintain their health, wellness, and energy levels throughout their stay.

Healthy Cusco

1. Green Point. Peruvian and international cuisine, with creative, plant-based dishes that are 100% vegan. The vegan community ranks it among the city’s best-rated restaurants for its ceviches, saltados, and tacu tacu — all in vegan versions. The atmosphere is magical, with tables set in the middle of a garden full of plants and fruit trees. Plus, its location in San Blas is a great excuse for a pleasant walk before or after eating.

2. Chia Vegan Restaurant. Also in San Blas, with a varied, fully vegan menu (with gluten-free options). Be sure to try their Andean cacao crepes. Great for anyone looking for a calm, relaxed atmosphere. By the way, it also serves Thai street food for non-vegan diners.

3. El Jardín, Healthy Food and Coffee. Right on Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, this is a great option for a healthy, light, plant-based breakfast, brunch, or snack. In fact, it’s also a good idea to stop by and pick up provisions if you want to head out prepared for an outing that takes half a day or a full day.

4. Organika. While not exclusively vegan, it does offer vegetarian options within a healthy menu. This makes it a great choice for mixed groups of diners. It stands out for its focus on celebrating local ingredients and championing healthy cooking.

5. Inti Raymi. The restaurant at Palacio del Inka, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Cusco, located right in the historic center, offers traditional Peruvian cuisine made with local Andean ingredients. From breakfast to dinner, you can enjoy exquisite dishes in the lounge or on the hotel’s outdoor patio.

Sacred Valley Restaurants

1. Organika La Huerta. A vegan restaurant in Urubamba known for its focus on native produce and Peruvian-inspired cuisine with a twist. The pizza and the tumbo cheesecake come highly recommended. The restaurant has its own garden (which visitors can tour), and the large wooden house also lets you enjoy the surroundings.

2. Native Peruvian Restaurant. A dining experience in the Sacred Valley, also in Urubamba. While not the entire menu is vegan, it does offer interesting Peruvian dishes made with local ingredients and meat-free alternatives. The atmosphere is cozy with elegant touches.

3. Green House, Organic Concept. An ideal stop for anyone visiting Machu Picchu, since the restaurant is located in Aguas Calientes. Its concept is based on purely organic ingredients, and the menu includes soups, salads, and heartier dishes. They offer vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and dairy-free options, always with creativity and lovely decor.

4. Hawa. Named after the word for “sky” in the native Quechua language, Hawa offers a captivating view of the Vilcanota River, with a very warm interior. The restaurant at Tambo del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa has its own organic garden, set in a prime location for agriculture, fed by the waters of the Chicón snow-capped peak and sheltered by the Vilcanota River. The ingredients that accompany its dishes are carefully selected from its garden, with the attention to detail that defines the entire experience at the hotel.