Environmental Studies Internships in Ecuador

Whenever I reminisce on my journey with Beyond Travels, my inner being lights up. I feel an overwhelming sense of warmth and gratitude. I spent several weeks in the Amazon as part of the Amazonian Indigenous Plant Medicine & Herbalism internship. From the moment I arrived, I felt safe, secure and genuinely cared for by the Beyond Travels team. Their knowledge, and thoughtful guidance sparked the confidence to fully immerse myself in the experience and embrace everything the Amazon had to offer. It was reassuring to have the team there to help translate and make sense of information along the way, as I would have felt quite lost trying to navigate alone. There was something almost ecstatic about being immersed in the aliveness of the Amazon. All of my senses were heightened. From the sound of thunder rolling through the rainforest with the torrential rain, to the incredible richness of lush green landscape, and the taste of forest foods: sweet cacao and guaba fruit, plantain, yuca, freshly caught wild fish, and much more. I often found myself thinking, Is this really my life right now!? One of the most impactful parts of my experience was staying with my host family — The team absolutely got the pairing right! I feel so honoured to have been welcomed into their home and community. They treated me as though I was a family member, showing me unconditional love and acceptance, despite the language barrier. Sharing in their everyday life deepened my connection to the jungle.. from hiking and working in their chakra (garden), to playing with the children in the river. The simpler rhythm of life, rooted me in presence. Spending time at Amupakin (midwifery health centre) with my host Mama, was incredibly special as I was surrounded by feminine energy, that felt truly nurturing. Taking part in ceremonies, limpias, and learning about their traditional medicine added another beautiful dimension to my experience, and opened my awareness to alternative ways of healing. I was particularly curious about Ayahuasca in which I was able to observe and participate in its preparation. It was mind expanding to learn about these traditions within their cultural context, and I was fascinated by how indigenous knowledge has been passed down through generations, and remains so woven into their everyday life. I was constantly confronted with the striking contrast to the ways we live in the West, and left me reflecting on just how disconnected we can sometimes be from the natural world and the knowledge held within it. I would recommend Beyond Travels over and over again. This was, without a doubt, one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. It has left such a lasting impression on me that I feel called to return. See you soon, Amazon. Thank you Andy and your team for creating such a spectacular opportunity

I cannot recommend this internship highly enough. The host family I stayed with was so welcoming and really made me feel part of the family. Everyone in the community was so knowledgeable and open to teach me as much as possible, from local wildlife to the workings of their Chakras (permacultures). It really opened my eyes to new possibilities for sustainable agriculture, ethical tourism and safeguarding of biodiversity and local culture/knowledge. All the planned days were a lot of fun, from white water rafting to seeing an apiary with stingless bees and vanilla production. Tena is also one of the most special places I have been to, with great food, a fun nightlife, all while being in the Amazon rainforest, with Cafe Tortuga an amazing hub to get to know a vast array of amazing people. Really, this is an experience which is eye-opening, rewarding, and filled with unforgettable experiences.

The program I was enrolled in was unavailable to review on this platform, but I was more focused on learning amazonian arts from the Ecuadorian people. I learned a lot about how to derive materials from plants and the earth, including how to harvest and purify clay, how to make fibers from the pita leaf, and which plants or minerals could be used as natural pigments for dyeing or painting fabric, a painting surface, or skin. I also learned how to make many artesanias with the natural fibers, how to make glasses and bowls from various woods and fruits from the trees, and traditional pottery techniques. I also learned about the natural medicinal properties of many plants, and about more environmental topics. I painted a mural for my community's business and learned about the gastronomy of the area and how the farming influences it as well.

When I first arrived in tena, I immediately felt so welcomed by Megan, and the 1-1 induction helped me settle in and get familiar with the town, going to the markets and finding my way around which was super helpful! I stayed with Clemente and Alena, who were both so welcoming, and I settled into daily life quickly, helping them in the house, working in their chakra and then working in the nearby town. Their house is in a really beautiful area, when I first arrived I thought that their back garden was the chakra as there were so many beautiful trees and plants around- waking up to the sound of nature was amazing! Whilst I did miss home occasionally over the 7 weeks, the weekly activities with other interns and 1-1s with Megan were great to just have someone to chat with- I also feel like without Megan I wouldn't have got the most out of my stay, knowing what new foods to try, and places to go in my free time was invaluable! Getting to eat soo many new fruits, and things like chontacuro was great, I might not have had the guts to do it without her!! Overall it was a great experience, that weekly activities were fun and I learnt a lot, the family and where I stayed was amazing and I really felt like I was integrating into their life- not just someone on holiday. The people, views and experiences are something I will never forget, I already want to go back <3

Staying with Patricio and Sylvia and being in the Amazon jungle truly changed me. It was a very healing experience and I learned so much about plant medicine and more about what I want to do in life. I left feeling connected to the forest, and very in tune with myself. They have a beautiful mirador where you can see rare birds which was amazing. They are very accommodating, and social! It really felt like a nice family. The program is structure itself is really nice just be prepared to walk a lot and stay hydrated. Megan was great and Andy truly made me feel safe and supported every step of the way. I definitely will be coming back!

I honestly wouldn't know what to improve — I had the best time and would 100% recommend it to others. During my internship, it started with the Ministry of the Environment, which began great. However, at a certain moment I realized that it didn't work out for me personally. Luckily, I was able to shift my focus to the chakra systems and Guayusa! Andy and Mirka were both lovely and super helpful. What I'm most proud of is deepening my understanding of nature and its global, border-transcending impact. The most impactful part was my host family. It was hard to hear of and see so much environmental destruction and social inequalities — it is one thing to learn about it at University, but to witness it can be very hard to process and deal with. So I'd say I learned how to cope with that and channel it into something useful. I think I could have tried to learn Kichwa better, but speaking Spanish for most days was already challenging. Looking back, I improved my Spanish and learned a ton about the complex realities that people face in the region — it also got me to think about ways to alleviate some of the issues, and I was able to practically use the skills I learned at University. If it works out, this program might have given me the inspiration to start my own business! Beyond that, it changed my life and made me affirm the life choices that I have made and the ones that I am about to make. I am immensely grateful for my host family's hospitality and kindness — they took me in and made me feel welcome and happy. I would recommend this to anyone, outside or inside of a university program, who is open to getting to know a culture and themselves on a deeper level.

During my internship, I conducted masters research on female corporality and its relation to environment, talking with family, a variety of shamans, Amupakin mamas and more contacts. I also learned procedural skills and taught dance. My host family was absolutely incredible — I 1000000000% recommend them. Always felt safe, was well taken care of, learnt a lot, and lots of fun. Very responsible, incredible food. Timing is not always on the side of an academic who has a time limit — that can pose problems which usually wouldn't be a problem, and it's something I'd plan ahead for next time. The check-ins had good structure, though they could be timed better. What was most impactful was interacting with locals. What I learned from the challenge of timing in the Amazon is that it's not what they verbally say — plan ahead and keep open timing. Beyond that, I developed artesanias, cooking, plant knowledge, survival skills, natural world knowledge, and spiritual and energy level skills. I will carry this experience for my life, both as an academic enhancement and to show the ability to work in different contexts. I felt very comfortable and was inspired every day — I see myself coming back. There's lots of projects happening. It's a great way to get access, be safe, have information and a security net for personal work. I would recommend for students!

The training days, for me, were essential. It was my very first trip alone, so I really appreciated the orientation days in Tena. During my internship, I visited Viktor from Wayta Chocolate, Patricio Andy and his Casa Ingaru, the Ikiam University, Ali Mamallacta and his Chakra, and Amupakin and Pakarina's chakra. I also learned a lot about the cooperation between the University and Indigenous communities and families. Every project was incredibly interesting and unique in its own way — with everybody I learned something different and got another point of view on the things around us. The main project basically was the life at Clemente's and Elena's, where I learned something new every day. I just loved the place and like Clemente's family so much. They really inspired me and I learned more than a lot from them and their way of life. Hopefully I get the chance to visit them soon again. The check-ins were super exciting and a great opportunity to get to the city — they were the guarantee that everything was in order, and on top of that, they were super interesting. So thank you very much for that. What I'm most proud of is clearing a whole area in the Chakra with Clemente one day and producing a ton of wine to sell at the market in Archidona — it was a great day. In the beginning it was some of the foods they eat there, but I realised that almost everything was really good. You have to accept that the time in your family and community will change you as a person, and be ready for this as a process — this really is important for the best time you can have there. If you haven't changed at all, you should rather consider whether you've done everything right. I could have learned even more Spanish and Kichwa and worked a little harder. Next time I would also reduce the contact to Germany a lot more. Looking back, I developed Spanish, working in the field with a machete, cooking, talking to strangers, and many more small things. This experience is definitely going to be part of my bachelors exam — I am also more open to traditional knowledge and have perfected my methods for writing fieldnotes. The things I learned can be used at my home as well, and I also made the decision to come again, even though this was not my idea before I went to Tena and San Luis. I will certainly never forget this time — and I'm sure it won't be my last visit to the Amazon. So thank you very much for everything, and hopefully see you in the future.

During my internship, my main project was teaching English in 5 de Octubre — three hour-long classes twice a week for about six weeks. In my community, I spent a lot of time taking care of the big vegetable garden, and I also helped out with the tourism business in my community, whether that was cooking, translating, or helping them with money stuff. I really liked the 1:1s I had with Mika — I always left our conversations feeling good about what I had done and inspired for the future. Once we started, I could see a change in the way I approached my internship — with more focus, purpose, and confidence! I loved every single minute I spent in 9 de Junio and would not have changed anything about my time there. The people are so kind and friendly and welcoming. What I'm most proud of is the relationships that I built with everyone in my community — it was one of my goals to get to know everyone in 9 de Junio and I feel like I both met and exceeded that goal. I was proud of how openly I trusted and shared about myself in order to build trust, and then how people reciprocated that by telling me about their lives, inviting me to come live with them or go visit their family. When I left, I truly felt like I was leaving a second family. The most impactful part was my host family. While living with a host family, I found the lack of personal space challenging at times — I learned to keep my things very tidy and to take intentional time out of my day or week to be by myself to recharge and then return home at my best energy. I was really proud of how my Spanish improved, and I also think I practiced and learned a lot about self-accountability and taking initiative. From my experience in my Kichwa community, I learned a lot of spiritual practices about the earth, the jungle and our world that I want to take with me into my personal life. I am most grateful for having gotten to know my community — I am so grateful for the way they opened their homes and their arms to me, and for all the laughter and fun times we shared, but also for the way they opened up to me about their lives and their challenges. I had a lot of personal transformations about the way I view the world and my place and responsibility in it. I think this is a super program, especially for gap year students — it was the perfect combination between support and freedom, and I think the freedom also pushed me to grow more than I would have in a structured program, all while knowing that if I ever needed anything, you both were right there to help me.

During the program, I focused on recording medicinal plant species and their traditional uses at Amupakin. The end result was adding signs to their Chakra to support the ecotourism component in communicating their wisdom across the barriers of language. This project helped me crystallize the next phases of other work I am currently pursuing — it was an incredibly valuable experience for my path. I love Elena and Clemente so deeply, they are amazing hosts and incredible chefs! There were moments of really intense confrontation of alcoholism in the community which were difficult to observe and be exposed to, but ultimately it gave me a more panoramic perspective of the challenges going on in Kichwa culture, and I am grateful to have a very real, unromanticized view of Indigenous peoples of the region. For me the check-ins felt very necessary being alone in the program — they gave me an opportunity to reflect and process my experiences. What I am most proud of is connecting deeply with all who surrounded me regardless of language barriers. It was hard not feeling fully comfortable at Clemente's after some very strange and invasive questions and conversations with other family members, but I am grateful to have had two host families — it actually made the experience better. I would have liked to hold a Conversatorio and share my ideas around herbalism more formally. Looking back, I expanded my view of traditional medicine, the process of recording ancestral knowledge, and also increased my Spanish. I am currently applying for a Fulbright to do something similar in another Indigenous community in Costa Rica, and the on-ground experience I received in this program has helped me frame a solid grant proposal and gives me real experience to draw upon going forward. I better understand the challenges rural Indigenous communities face and will be integrating that into my work in International development and ancestral herbalism. I see myself gathering so much knowledge from around the world to synthesize and gift back to all communities in support of an ancient future — a future that amplifies marginalized voices, centers the Earth, and values the traditions of our ancestry. What I am most grateful for is the love I feel from and for the land of the Amazon. I have a lot of people in my circle who could benefit from this program and will surely pass it on.

During my internship, I worked with the Ministry of Environment to write a story about the history of Santa Rita, and I accompanied my supervisor for her daily activities, including tour guide. They were incredible — 10000/10. Stephanie was awesome! She helped me with any struggles I faced and was there with a tremendous amount of support and guidance, and I felt very comfortable speaking to her and expressing my feelings. What I'm most proud of is the friendships and relationships that I fostered. The most impactful part was my host family. I struggled with my lower level of Spanish, but I learned to practice it and learn from others. I could have reached out to more actors to help jumpstart the trash program in my community. Looking back, I became more selfless, resilient, and learned to be more curious rather than judgmental. I believe I gained a multitude of skills from working at MAE which will benefit my career in the environmental studies realm, and I would want to focus my work in Latin America, where practicing Spanish will serve as a huge benefit. I really loved Ecuador and I would hope to live here one day. I am super grateful for this experience, but I am most grateful for living in Santa Rita.

During my internship, I was teaching English through songs with the ukulele, working on art and trying to find ways for the girls to sell their jewelry in the states, learning about traditional medicine through the finca and cooking, helping with brigades, wanting to implement some health education, and helping set up soccer Tuesdays — I love soccer. It was a lot. I was sometimes all over the place in my head, but I really enjoyed it all. What I am most proud of is the quality of relationships I made with individual people and families — they are all very genuine and relationships that I feel will last a lifetime. The most impactful part was my host family. Communication in the beginning with the family was a challenge — I need to make sure, when speaking in another language, that what I am saying is understood and that what they say I understand, to avoid confusion and questions. I think I could have given more to others, though I think I gave in other ways — writing notes, doing deeds of kindness. I could have also taken advantage of time a bit more and woken up earlier to take some time for myself. Looking back, I developed language — I consider myself fluent, if not very close — along with confidence, initiation, and communication. With the skills I gained, such as the language, initiation, communication, love, compassion, and perseverance, I feel like I have changed in wonderful ways that will most definitely help me in my future endeavors. Being involved in such a vibrant country and culture made me fall in love with Ecuador and its people, confirming my belief that I need to travel as part of my job and continue meeting and being open to people everywhere. Steph! You helped give me the confidence — many times — that what I was doing was worth it! And it all totally was, but was hard to see at times. You always encouraged me to look for the good in the situations and my time here would have been much more challenging without you! Super likely to recommend — however, an experience like this definitely depends on the person and personality. People have to be willing to take initiative to get out there, meet people, and involve themselves.

During my internship, I helped with the operations of Los Yapas, and participated in a bit of activities related to traditional medicines such as lemon grass, and talks. The most impactful part was all of the above — and also interacting with locals. What surprised me most was learning to be neutral and take things in, although they might not be my favourite things to take in. The language barrier was a challenge — I'm gonna practice better Spanish before I re-visit the Amazon. It would have been great to have a more precise idea about what I can do in my host family rather than taking more time to figure them out upon arrival. Beyond that, I developed a bit of Spanish, patience, and adaptability — tolerating long-journey buses builds that fast! I was already an advocate for sustainability before I went, and upon completing the program I feel like I am making less waste in my daily life now, which is good. I am grateful that everything turned out smoothly, for the great communications with Steph and Andy, for surviving well in exotic surroundings with no major danger, and for how supportive and welcoming Ecuadorians are. I believe a lot of people from Asia would be eager to explore, and Amazon Learning is definitely the first step that they can take.

During my internship, I worked on creating an encyclopedia of medicinal plants and making salves and other remedies with my host family. I'm happy with what I completed and want to come back to do more. The most impactful part was my host family — I'm grateful that I was such a good fit with them. They were incredible. A shower would've been nice. What I learned most from the challenge of communication was how to rephrase things better, to have patience at trying to understand, and that it's important to keep learning Spanish actively, because it takes a ton of experience to become fluent. Taking advantage of waiting time — such as for the bus — to get things done is something I could have done better. Beyond that, I developed Spanish, social skills, drawing, patience, flexibility, medicine making, and writing. I now have a much broader selection of medicinal plants to choose from, and can work with Clemente to get them to the US when I have my own shop. I want to come back to Ecuador to keep studying medicinal plants, and I feel like my definition of "home" has changed — I do have more confidence now that I've traveled to a foreign country by myself. I think it's a great experience to study and work abroad, especially in the Amazon!

During my internship, I worked at Kallari Association, helping their cacao business in any capacity that I could. I learned how the cacao is planted, grown, harvested in my family's chakra, and then collected, processed, packaged, and marketed at Kallari. I also was given the opportunity to explore and learn from nearby cacao organizations and chakras. Carla and her family were absolutely wonderful — super friendly, helped me out a lot, and made delicious food. Mirka was an excellent mentor! She helped me understand what to expect during my time in Tena and provided excellent support. What I'm most proud of is being able to build relationships with the members of my host family — my Spanish is not anywhere close to perfect, but my host family was very supportive and patient. One challenge was trying to fit in everything I wanted to do and learn during my short stay in Tena — I learned how to be efficient and concise with the things I did. I think I could have put more effort into speaking Spanish during the entirety of my stay instead of speaking English when I had the opportunity to do so. Looking back, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and became much more flexible and able to adapt to situations — my Spanish skills most definitely improved, as did my agriculture skills, since I only knew of American farming techniques. This experience has helped me determine that I want to go into sustainable agriculture or food security in the United States. I am applying to graduate school now, and hopefully will start my own entrepreneurial venture relating to this one day. I will be much more aware of how my actions impact my community and the planet, and I will be doing things I'm passionate about instead of purely monetarily. I am grateful for the wonderful family that so generously opened up and shared their lives with me. I think exposing as many people to this program would be wonderful — it helps people explore their interests in a new perspective and makes a positive impact on the community in Tena.

During my internship, I worked with GIZ helping with climate change workshops and inputting information into Excel spreadsheets, worked at Tamia Yura getting a tour of the botanical gardens, and taught English classes two evenings a week at Cavernas Jumandy. I also conducted independent research on Buen Vivir for school. I really loved Tamia Yura — the people there and the forest, the gardens, everything. It was so beautiful and I hope it can work out in the future. The 1:1s were fantastic, very helpful and thorough. I loved my host family — they did a great job making me feel included in the family and welcome in the home. They all made efforts to get to know me and ask questions, and taught me about their culture. What I'm most proud of is conducting interviews for my research project, starting teaching English classes at the Cavernas Jumandy, and developing strong relationships with my host family. The most impactful part was all of the above. At the beginning it was hard for me to be so visibly different, so conspicuous as a gringa — I didn't like walking on the street because I felt like everyone was looking at me all the time. After a while I realized that I couldn't change the way I looked and was just going to have to brush it off. I learned to care less about what other people were thinking about me — it's not something I can really change from a distance. I wish I would have started more conversations with family members instead of waiting for them to start conversations. Looking back, I got better at Spanish, learned to take more initiative, and became more confident in myself through being visibly different. This experience made me more interested in environmental education and made me want to work in South America. I really want to come back in the future to see the people I developed relationships with, and going to Ecuador made me realize how important traveling can be and how much I want to keep traveling, and possibly live abroad at some point. I am so grateful for my host family and their support, friendship, and for including me in their lives. I had a wonderful experience — I'm having a hard time explaining it to others. You just have to go yourself.

During my internship, I worked with Sinchi Warmi and attempted to get plants donated to them. Sometimes I felt like I was not doing anything, but in the end I felt like I accomplished a lot. The check-ins were very helpful and always made me feel motivated for the next day. My host family was amazing — supportive and loving, everything I wanted and needed from a host family. Looking back, what I'm most proud of is just the simple act of participating in the program. What was most impactful was all of the above. What surprised me most was that communication doesn't always need to be with words — I developed communication, confidence, plant knowledge, people skills, and many many more. It was a real world experience, which prepares you in ways a classroom can't. My life perspective has changed, and so will my life as a whole. I am grateful I met so many amazing people. Beyond that, I am re-evaluating my future career, so there's that. It was a wonderful experience and I believe everyone should have a similar experience in their lifetime. I liked the end of week questions, but kept forgetting to do them.

During my internship, I organised various viveros in different communities, collecting seeds and plants from the rainforest and planting them. I felt like I could always get in touch if I needed to, as both Andy and Stephanie were friendly and approachable — I appreciated the check-ins to ensure everything was going well and I felt comfortable. The most impactful part was my host family. What I'm most proud of is the ability to communicate effectively with members of the community and gaining respect from them and my colleagues. Getting off the wrong stop on the bus and ending up in a different community was a challenge — I learnt to have confidence to ask questions and ask for help, as people are generally willing to give it. Looking back, I developed Spanish and physical manual labour skills. This experience gives me something interesting to talk about in job interviews, as it shows that I understand other cultures and biodiversity. Beyond that, it made me more humble and more conscious about my consumption and trying to be more sustainable. I am grateful for the opportunity to live with a local family and understand everyday life as a local. I feel it is a good way to understand the Amazonian region deeply rather than just focusing on its attractiveness.

During my internship, I came to truly understand how traditional medicine persists, how it is received by the people looking for it, how they deeply use the plants, and what challenges it is facing. I also learned about the public health system in Ecuador — what exists and what is, from my point of view, missing — and how people are making their best to reach communities and more vulnerable people even though it's hard through distance, culture, and money. What was most impactful was being with the family, living in Amupakin and everything that happened there, and visiting the chakra and the health center. What I'm most proud of is eating tilapia again — and participating in a parto vertical using only plants as help. The challenge of witnessing alcoholism and the beating of children was difficult, because in my culture it's really an issue. I learned to respect a disagreement, and in general I really learned to fit into a new culture and adapt to it regardless of my opinion on it. Sometimes being more active despite the tiredness to create stronger connections with some people faster is something I could have done better. Looking back, I developed the skill of using plants in their whole, paying more attention to nature, and seeing how projects can be implemented in public health or to help traditional medicine survive. As I would like to switch to public health implementation while taking into account cultural background and traditional medicine, this was perfect to see how it already exists and what and how it can be done — it strengthened my motivation toward my future career choice. I am grateful to have been able to know the Kichwa culture and the public health system in a true and real experience — not by staying in a bubble above it, but by being able to be in it. For the orientation and support, knowing you are not alone. And for meeting so many different people while having a main place — for me, Amupakin. Because it's really worth the money. You have support, a great team working to make the best happen, listening to you and your needs. It's a month I know I'll remember forever. I'm also very thankful to Carlos, with whom I explored around and got to learn about everything he knows and had a general great time.

During my internship, I was working on a reforestation project with chunchos and corn. My Ecuafamily was perfect — I really enjoyed working and living at Mushullacta with Jose and Maira's family. The 1:1 was very useful at the beginning because I was a little bit lost in this new country, and my English and Spanish were very bad at the time. For the first time I think I have realized and accomplished something professionally. What I'm most proud of is accomplishing my personal and professional project. The most impactful part was all of the above. Improving my language skills was a real challenge — I learned that to learn a new language perfectly it's important to take classes, because people could not understand me but my English and Spanish are not very academic. Looking back, I wish I had been myself earlier. I developed skills in how to manage a reforestation project in a developing country, and it confirms me in the idea that it is what I want to do in my future professional life. All of my experience there was a personal transformation, and I discovered a new culture I am grateful for. It was one of my best experiences — I would recommend it extremely likely.