What are you looking for on your next vegan vacation? Perhaps, a trip where you can enjoy your destination to the fullest without compromising on your principles. You might want to try new dishes and learn about new cultures, all without supporting speciesism or cruelty to animals. And overall, to feel at peace with your choices, knowing that you’re contributing to creating a better world. From food to leisure, accommodation, cosmetics, and more, the following practical tips will make it easy for you to plan the vegan vacations you’ve always dreamed of.
Top tips for a vegan-friendly vacation
1. Get informed
Before traveling, it’s best to explore local traditions and typical dishes to help you get a better idea of what your vacation will look like, and minimize potential setbacks around food, activities, or accommodations. Immersing yourself in the cultural practices of your destinations not only adds depth to your travel experience but also expands your worldview, introducing you to a wider variety of experiences. In this way, participating in community tourism helps to reveal other ways of seeing the world, turning your next trip into a great adventure.
2. Be proactive
It never hurts to be proactive and anticipate situations that may need extra attention as you travel. For example, if you are traveling by plane, make sure to specify a vegan menu when choosing your meal options. Or, when booking other activities that include meals, inquire what options they have in advance. The same goes for restaurants, do you want to discover traditional vegan recipes (or ‘veganized’ versions)? Are there any vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants you’d like to go to? Contact them to make a booking in advance—this way, you won’t miss out on anything!
3. Prepare your vegan travel pack
A vegan travel pack with some food and basic personal hygiene products in your suitcase can help you navigate many unforeseen events. Some ideas for what you could pack include individual cartons of plant milk, nuts, or other healthy snacks with high nutritional value, such as cereal and seed bars, shakes, protein balls, or dehydrated fruit. Always carry your vitamin B12 with you, especially if you are traveling abroad. For cosmetics, refillable travel-sized containers are very helpful. If you forget anything, all Iberostar hotels have refillable dispensers with shower gel, shampoo, body cream, and other vegan and cruelty-free cosmetics as part of a single-use plastic-free policy.
4. Dare to ask (and say no)
If you ever have any doubts about the ingredients of a dish, or you’re unsure about the origin or material of an item, the solution is always to ask. And, if the answer does not convince you, feel free to say no. If you don’t speak the language, it’s a good idea to write down a few translated phrases to communicate the essentials. In this regard, the Iberostar hotel staff will do everything they can to ensure you enjoy a smooth and stress-free vegan vacation. Just tell them what you need, and let yourself be taken care of.
5. Be open to the experience
Consider that you might have to face some unpleasant situations on your travels, especially if you visit places where the values seem to be very different from your own. Try to open yourself to the experience and learn from it. This might be the most challenging part of it all, but it will be the one that will allow you to grow and delve deeper into yourself and your vegan principles. If you have any additional dietary requirements, for example, if you are intolerant to gluten, check out this gluten-free travel guide to help make your vegan vacation as seamless as possible.
So, what’s the next step? Choosing the accommodation that best suits you.
How to choose a hotel for your vegan vacation
Vegan options
When deciding between one accommodation or another, pay attention to the food options available: the more varied and diverse, the easier and more enjoyable you’ll find your next vegan vacation. Iberostar’s restaurants not only have many veggie options but also offer personalized alternatives to their healthy and natural menus. You can inquire about these options upon arrival or when you book. Let the team know that you are vegan and what your preferences are so they can adapt the dishes.
Sustainability
Sustainable tourism is closely linked to veganism, as vegan choices around food are better for the environment, and travel is no different. Hotels with a commitment to sustainable tourism make conscious actions to offset the impact of travel on the environment. Choosing to stay in these hotels can help make a difference as they continue to listen, learn, and improve. Some destinations prioritize sustainability more than others, but wherever you go, you can always choose accommodations on your vegan vacation that share your values.
Vegan-friendly activities
It’s also important to think about the activities you’d like to plan for your vegan vacations. Walking or biking tours with local guides will allow you to explore new environments in an eco-friendly way, without disturbing local flora and fauna. Want to go scuba diving in tropical waters? Check out these magical spots for diving in Riviera Maya. While swimming in paradise, you’ll also have the opportunity to visit Iberostar’s coral labs and find out more about their work to help restore coral reefs in the area. Prefer an active Mediterranean getaway? The cycling routes of Mallorca will help you explore a secret island, full of unique ecological wonders. There are extraordinary destinations around the world just waiting for you to discover them.
Sustainable tourism also extends to the food options of the accommodations you choose to stay in. Discover vegan restaurants located around your hotel, plus supermarkets, market stalls, and other food products available on your next vegan vacation. You’ll be surprised!
The best destinations for vegan vacations
Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya is one of the most dynamic vegan destinations in the Caribbean. And not only because of its cuisine rich in ancient grains like corn and the abundance of fruits and vegetables typical of its tropical climate. Its energy invites you to practice a philosophy that is respectful of all living beings. Activities like ethical diving, snorkeling, and walks through protected ecosystems that teach you how to protect endangered Mexican wildlife all enrich your trip.
At the restaurants of Iberostar hotels in Riviera Maya, there are vegan options to suit all tastes. You’ll be able to try some of the most typical dishes in Mexican cuisine, such as tacos and some vegan moles, paired with tequila or mezcal, their sacred drinks. Additionally, you’ll taste the best international cuisine made from plant-based ingredients. Even the Playa Paraíso resort’s hamburger joint, which is open until late at night and is located in the shopping center, offers its version of the Beyond Meat burger.
Punta Cana
Suppose your next vegan vacation takes you to Punta Cana. In that case, you’ll discover a whole new world with Dominican cuisine, where legumes, cereals (especially rice), vegetables, exotic fruits, and aromatic herbs take center stage. The national food, the banana, is usually served fried or in mangú, an extremely creamy puree (make sure it doesn’t contain butter when you order it). You shouldn't leave without trying their famous moro, a stew made with fresh vegetables, white rice, beans, and spices; or the asopao with beans, another flavorful spoon dish.
When you stay at Iberostar hotels in Punta Cana, you’ll have additional vegan options to those already available in their buffets and themed restaurants: ask the staff about them. Visit one of Iberostar’s seven coral nurseries in the Caribbean when staying at the Iberostar Playa Bávaro Complex and learn more about its reef restoration projects as part of its commitment to improving coastal health.
Mallorca
In Mallorca, in the heart of the Mediterranean, you’ll find a wide range of vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants, partly thanks to a society influenced by the hippie movement in the Balearic Islands during the 60s and 70s. And, not only that: the organic production methods practiced in Mallorcan orchards and the richness of its fauna and flora encourage kilometer 0 crops, which support soil regeneration and preserve the life of insects like butterflies and bees.
Vegan vacations to this destination can include a trip to the S'Albufera Natural Park, where endangered animals in Spain, such as the European pond turtle or the white-headed duck, find refuge. When staying at the Iberostar Selection Albufera Park and Iberostar Selection Albufera Playa hotels, which make up the all-inclusive resort complex located on the paradisiacal Playa de Muro, you’ll have direct access to this protected space. There are also multiple vegan options and alternatives, such as soy protein tacos and vegetable ceviche from the Nopal-themed restaurant.
Fuerteventura
With more than 150 kilometers of coastline, Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands of Spain, is one of the most popular destinations for surfing and vegan vacations in Europe. Its incredible beaches are perfect for catching waves and admiring the wild beauty of this volcanic island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. The surfer lifestyle, which has always been dynamic and conscious of health and nature, intersects with veganism at many points on the island. Because of this, Fuerteventura offers a great selection of vegan and vegetarian restaurant options. Some typical Canarian dishes that are vegan-friendly include papas arrugás with mojo picón or verde, watercress stew, arepas, and gofio escaldón... but there are many more. Hungry, yet?
Marrakech
You’ll also find a strong surf culture in Morocco. Discover its unique gastronomy among its waves and palm trees, where the aromas, colors, and flavors of North Africa take on a different dimension when served on a cruelty-free plate. At the restaurants of the Iberostar Waves Club Palmeraie Marrakech hotel, a peaceful oasis just fifteen minutes away from the city's Medina, you'll taste traditional vegetarian preparations like tagine and vegetable couscous, in addition to international veggie recipes from every continent.
