With the weather turning chillier here in America, it’s not a bad idea to look toward the Caribbean – and with some newer vegan options on some friendly islands, who wouldn’t want to plan a holiday getaway?

Let HappyCow be your guide for vegan food while you decide upon the island of your preference.

Aruba

With the most HappyCow listings per capita out of the entire Caribbean, Aruba is sure to have plenty of options for vegan food. According to locals: the most fun part of Aruba’s vegan scene is the culture shift that has happened over the past few years. You’ll easily meet locals on your vacation who will tell you they’re vegan or that they’re on their vegan journey. People are super friendly and love to talk about veganism here because it’s got such a positive reputation!

Why it’s got a great reputation:

• You’ll find indulgent and creative vegan menus at many restaurants within walking distance of the high and low rise hotel areas.

• Both major supermarkets on the island have all of the vegan products and brands you know and love, from vegan cheeses to ice cream and deli slices.

• Vegan retreats will be coming soon for 2020.

Where & What to eat: Don’t miss Eduardo’s Beach Shack! Eduardo’s is famous for their cocowhip, a soft serve ice cream made of coconut water. If you’re visiting on a cruise ship or spending time in the downtown port area, check out One Happy Bowl, a fully vegan cafe. For dinner, enjoy the best views of the island at Faro Blanco and order from their vegan Italian options like penne alla vodka, grilled caesar, or lasagna soup. Another favorite is Fishes & More, where you’ll find vegan calamari and a vegan seafood platter.

Where to stay: For a wellness-focused vacation, Manchebo Beach Resort has full vegan menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and daily yoga in their gorgeous beach pavilion. Stay at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort for a luxury eco-vacation, as they are the first carbon-neutral resort in North America. They have full vegan menus for lunch and dinner, plus breakfast options on their buffet. (Note that this resort is adult-only.) If you’d like to stay at a high rise hotel, we recommend Holiday Inn, which recently introduced vegan options to all of their restaurants. Many of the other resorts on the island have vegan options such as the Beyond Burger or are in walking distance to several vegan-friendly restaurants.

For more information: www.veganaruba.com or follow Meredith Marin, a Vegan Hospitality Expert who has single-handedly veganized Aruba.

See all veg restaurants on Aruba here.

Curacao

The locals on this island are passionate about informing and educating everyone on the benefits of vegan options. In fact, part of their mission is to create awareness on how they deal with waste on the island.

 

 

 

 

Why it’s got a great reputation:

• Vegan Curacao organizes a Vegan Goods Market (quarterly) and a vegan food fest (once a year).

• Vegan Nights take place sporadically with restaurants to bring an all-vegan night.

•  Plenty of restaurants, supermarkets, and health food stores with vegan options.

Where & What to eat: Sweet and Blue has an array of vegan food from entrees to salads to sweets. Make it a one-stop shop and stock up next door at the health market. Hofi Cas Cora and Temari Sushi are also local favorites, though vastly different atmospheres. Hofi Cas Cora has a farm-to-table vibe with half of their menu boasting vegan options, while Temari is Asian-focused with a vegan menu of its own.

For more information: Follow Arnold Van Putten at @vegancuracaoevents and check out Vegan Curacao’s event page and photo gallery.

See all veg restaurants on Curacao here.

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands technically doesn’t count as one island, but rather three islands. Known for beaches, nightlife, and water sports, you’ll be busy with activities – which means you shouldn’t have to spend all of your free time searching for vegan options! Luckily, Cayman Islands have got your options ready to go.

Why they’ve got a great reputation:

•  There are three fully vegan restaurants on the Cayman Islands.

•  The Cayman Islands are one of the Caribbean’s “up-and-coming vegan scenes.”

•  Known for the resorts, you’ll want to check out the accommodations – especially with a new celebrity vegan chef in the area.

Where & What to eat:

Bread and Chocolate is in the heart of Georgetown, right near the cruise ship port. They offer vegan varieties of the classic comfort foods. Island Naturals is known for their great service and energy; their food is healthy and worldly. Vivo is located at a popular dive spot and hosts the most epic sunsets.

Where to stay: Palm Heights Resort on Grand Cayman – their chef is a famous raw vegan chef, Aris LaTham. Check out their restaurant: Tillies, and their Coconut Club Lounge. Chef Aris also serves raw vegan buffets on Thursdays and Sundays.

For more information: Follow Chalenne Carroll @vegan.cayman

See all veg restaurants in the Cayman Islands here. 

Additional islands for vegan-friendly tourism:

Puerto Rico

San Juan is the most vegan friendly city; you may not “stumble upon” a vegan option, but there are plenty of awesome places to go if you plan in advance with HappyCow.

Jamaica

Because of the Rastafarian culture, Ital diet is catered to, and there are an abundance of vegan options!

Belize

Thanks to Plant Based Belize, a vegan resort retreat page, another up-and-coming vegan experience that will be happening in the near future – keep your eyes peeled for this one.

Others, still, have found pleasant vegan experiences in Barbados, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Again, with the wonderful Caribbean weather, it seems impossible that you could go wrong with a decided destination.

What have you found to be vegan-friendly in the Caribbean? Any gems worth mentioning that you didn’t see here? Comment down below and let us know.

 

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author, and not of HappyCow nor of the featured restaurants.

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