Ecuador is lauded for its diverse natural landscapes, impressive UNESCO World Heritage Sites, delicious food, and adventurous spirit. Interning abroad is about so much more than what happens in the office, and as one of the most interesting and beautiful countries in South America, Ecuador is an amazing place to expand your mind and learn about a new culture. If you know you want to intern abroad but don’t know what’s available, this article will fill you in on all of the best internship programs in Ecuador.
Do you want to learn about plant medicine in the Amazon Rainforest, work at medical clinics in Quito, or help restore ancestral building techniques in the Andes mountains? Keep reading to find the best opportunities for interning in Ecuador.
What makes these internships the best in Ecuador?
Just think, your internship could take place in a city like this!
We considered several factors when looking for the best internship opportunities in Ecuador:
- Provider reputation: The best programs for interning in Ecuador have stellar reputations for providing interns with life-changing and valuable experiences. They are veterans in the student travel field and know how to ensure that interns feel safe and happy in their placements abroad.
- Program inclusions: The providers listed in this article offer a variety of inclusions as part of their program costs. Many include accommodation, food, airport transfer, insurance, and Spanish lessons. With all of these details taken care of, you can jet off to Ecuador without worry.
- Sustainability: Many of the chosen providers also invest program fees directly into the communities where internships take place. They also make sure that interns are actually needed by local partners. With these measures in place, your internship will be mutually beneficial and sustainable.
- Cultural immersion: Finally, the best programs for interning in Ecuador ensure that participants get to experience true Ecuadorian culture by pairing them with host families, teaching them Spanish, and placing them in non-touristy regions. Some of the internship fields themselves are unique to the country, including wildlife research, island conservation, and Amazonian plant medicine.
8 Best Internship Programs in Ecuador
1. Custom Internships with World Endeavors
World Endeavors’ internship program offers participants the opportunity to gain experience in a multitude of fields in Ecuador’s capital city. With the ability to live with a host family, in a shared apartment, or in a student residence, you will become a part of a new community while developing professional skills for your future career.
Their dynamic program includes a customized placement, flexible start dates and durations, accommodation, a career readiness program, academic credit, insurance, and a team of experts to help you throughout your internship.
- Where? Quito
- Fields: Environmental Management, Hospitality, Education, Agriculture, Media
- Read World Endeavors reviews
2. Cloud Forest Research Internship with Roots Interns
This program is perfect for biology students hoping to gain real-world experience in their field. Roots Interns’ internship will allow you to contribute to an important conservation project in the Ecuadorian Andes. Working with the Tangaré Foundation, you will help with their mission to find sustainable modes of development in Ecuador and spread global awareness about rainforest conservation.
Some of your specific duties will include collecting and analyzing data from the reserve, conducting outside research, writing reports, and helping with community programs. You will also have the option to propose your own projects or use your data for university research. Living in a dedicated volunteer house in the Cloud Forest, you will become completely immersed in your environment and the foundation’s conservation efforts.
- Where? Pichincha (La Hesperia Cloud Forest Reserve)
- Fields: Biology, Education, Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
- Read Roots Interns reviews
3. Guaranteed Internships with Adelante Abroad
Do you want to do a work placement and learn Spanish at the same time? This internship program includes two weeks of intensive Spanish classes and the option to stay with a host family to fully immerse yourself in the language.
Their internships take place in a variety of sectors, including medicine, NGOs, education, and marketing. In addition to pairing you with an organization, Adelante Abroad will arrange your accommodation, bring you on excursions around the country, and award you with academic credit. Adelante Abroad promises to customize your internship and give you a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- Where? Quito, Ambato
- Fields: Human Rights, Political Science & Politics, Sociology, Women’s Studies
- Read Adelante Abroad reviews
4. Social Work Internship with Projects Abroad
If you are interested in gaining social work experience in a developing country, this program offers one of the best opportunities for interning in Ecuador. Living in the Galápagos islands, you will provide essential care to disadvantaged children and children with special needs in a local kindergarten.
As an intern, you will work for five hours a day leading educational activities, playing with the children, assisting the local staff, and observing the childrens’ behavior. You will have your evenings and weekends free to explore, hike, snorkel, and scuba dive on the beautiful island. You will also be living in a shared house with other volunteers and interns, giving you access to a community of people with similar interests.
- Where? San Cristobal
- Fields: Social Work
- Read Projects Abroad reviews
5. Global Health in Quito with Child Family Health International
This program features another opportunity to gain experience in the medical field. Interns will be placed in a range of clinical sites inside and outside the city of Quito, shadowing health care professionals and learning about the local health care system.
In addition to your placement, you will live with a local family, receive 10 to 20 hours of Spanish language instruction, and explore the region in your time off. Child Family Health International also provides pick-up from the airport, two meals a day, laundry once a week, a local cell phone, and international emergency medical and evacuation insurance.
- Where? Quito
- Fields: Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing
- Read Child Family Health International reviews
6. Agriculture & Sustainable Construction with El Terreno
Join El Terreno’s mission to restore neglected buildings and revive traditional construction techniques with an internship program in the Andes mountains. This cultural exchange center is dedicated to rebuilding homes in Guaranda to combat poverty and preserve the cultural heritage of the Andean people.
Throughout your internship, you will take on a design or building project and learn about how traditional Andean homes are made. Not only will you gain valuable construction experience, but you will also be able to make a tangible difference in the community. Your program will include shared accommodation, lunches Monday to Friday, weekly professional teaching and mentoring, a materials budget, a certificate of completion, and a written reference.
- Where? Guaranda
- Fields: Architecture, Construction, Industrial & Manufacturing, Sustainable Development
- Read El Terreno: Cultural Exchange Centre reviews
7. Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring & Conservation in Galapagos with IOI
Intercultural Outreach Initiative (IOI) is a nonprofit organization offering volunteer, study abroad, and internship programs in the Galápagos Islands. Through their varied initiatives, they educate participants on sustainability while providing support to local conservation projects.
As you work, you will develop important skills and become well-acquainted with the organization. You will apply your newly acquired knowledge to an internship with Galápagos National Park, monitoring sea turtle nests as you walk a beautiful stretch of Isabela beach. Throughout the program, you will determine nesting patterns of the Green Sea Turtle, observe and take data on the nests, and help to remove debris, rubbish, and kikuyo. If you’re interested in a career in animal conservation and research, this program will put you on the right track.
- Where? Galápagos Islands
- Fields: Animal Sciences, Environmental Studies, Marine Science, Sustainable Development
- Read International Outreach Initiative (IOI) reviews
8. Giant Tortoise & Sea Turtle Conservation with GoEco
This program provides another incredible opportunity to volunteer with turtles at the Galápagos National Park. You will have the choice between working in their tortoise breeding center or as a sea turtle nest monitor. As a volunteer, you will be asked to work four hours a day and perform tasks such as caring for tortoises, cleaning enclosures, searching for sea turtle nests, and speaking with tourists visiting the park.
In addition, GoEco offers a private room in a volunteer house or a homestay, two meals a day, and free time on the weekends to explore the beautiful island. If you want to be a part of an important initiative to save turtles from extinction, this is one of the best internship opportunities in Ecuador for you.
- Where? Galápagos Islands
- Fields: Animal Sciences, Marine Science
- Read GoEco reviews
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Real Experience, Real Impact in Ecuador
No matter the field you’re interested in, the best internship programs in Ecuador will give you hands-on experience to elevate your resume.
With its incredible wildlife, fascinating history, rich culture, and awe-inspiring scenery, Ecuador provides unique internships that you won’t find anywhere else in the world. No matter which one of these programs you choose, your placement is sure to equip you with professional skills and exciting cultural experiences. So…now that you know what internship opportunities are available in Ecuador, are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?
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