Internships in Ecuador
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167 Internships in Ecuador
Adelante Abroad
4.4
10
Ready to gain professional work experience and perfect your skills while immersing in a new culture? It's time for you to take part in our intern...
See All 9 Programs
El Terreno
4.67
18
Join our Architecture Internship in the Ecuadorian Andes, where you'll engage in hands-on projects that blend traditional building methods with m...
See All 17 ProgramsIntern Abroad HQ
0
0
Launch your career in marine science with a Marine and Coastal Conservation Management Internship in the Galapagos Islands with Intern Abroad HQ. Designed for students and graduates in biology, oceanography, and environmental science, this program offers immersive field experience in one of the worl
See All 2 ProgramsGoEco - Top Volunteer Organization
4.76
41
GoEco is one of the world’s top volunteer organizations, with award-winning and ethical programs selected by sustainable travel experts. Since 2006, tens of thousands of volunteers have taken part in projects and internships worldwide, focusing on wildlife and marine conservation, education, and med
See All 7 ProgramsInternational Medical Aid (IMA)
4.96
168
IMA offers an opportunity to enhance your medical and healthcare knowledge with International Medical Aid's Pre-Med and Health Fellowships. Crafted for pre-med undergraduates, medical students, and high school students, these fellowships offer a unique chance to engage deeply with global health care
See All 12 ProgramsIntercultural Outreach Initiative (IOI)
4.63
27
Travel to the island that inspired Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, and do more than explore. Help support sea turtle conservation! As a sea turtle nest monitor, you'll walk the 2-km stretch of coastline on beautiful Isabela Island, collecting data for the Galapagos National Park to support th
See All 4 ProgramsInstitute for Global Studies
0
0
If you love animals and are up to the challenge of protecting them, join our internships in animal welfare. IGS students have worked in shelters and dog daycares in Hawaii, Boston, Auckland, Sydney, and other locations worldwide. Shelter work focuses primarily on cats and dogs no longer cared for, h
See All 54 ProgramsBeyond Travels
4.75
16
Explore traditional plant medicine and community-based healing practices in the Ecuadorian Amazon through an immersive internship rooted in cultural exchange, ethnobotany, and sustainable living. Participants live with Indigenous Kichwa host families and gain firsthand exposure to the chakra system
See All 8 ProgramsRoots Interns
0
0
Join Manna Project International as they work to implement a comprehensive WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) program in the indigenous Kichwa community of Shandia. Situated in the amazonian rainforest region of Ecuador, you’ll work in the early stages of plans to construct a filtration system sup
See All 12 ProgramsWorld Endeavors
4.69
13
Join World Endeavors for an affordable and unique internship opportunity in Ecuador. Ecuador is one of those rare destinations in the world that seems to have the right combination of natural beauty, intriguing history, and vibrant culture. Nestled along the Equator in the northwest corner of the So
Child Family Health International
4.83
6
Experience the rich culture and history of Ecuador's vibrant capital city while learning about the healthcare challenges facing the region. One of Child Family Health International's longest-running programs, the Andean Health program offers a comprehensive learning experience that encompasses both
See All 3 ProgramsKaya Responsible Travel
5
1
Sign up for this program and contribute to efforts in turning into reality the equal distribution of privileges, opportunities, and wealth within the Ecuadorian society. The Social Justice Internship in Ecuador collaborates with several local organizations based in and around central Quito. They wor
See All 9 ProgramsFundación Bolívar Education
0
0
We are pleased to share details about our Health Program at a public hospital in Quito, tailored for students and professionals interested in the medical field, including those in medicine, pre-med, nursing, and current medical professionals. The core purpose of this program is to facilitate knowle
See All 2 ProgramsWorld Unite!
0
0
This on-site program provides an opportunity to gain exclusive and specialist knowledge about animal rehabilitation in Ecuador and the Amazon rainforest. You will contribute to animal care and welfare, assisting with tasks such as food preparation, feeding, behavioral observations, and rehabilitati
International Volunteer HQ [IVHQ]
4.68
824
At International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ), we unite people from over 96 countries who want to make a meaningful difference while exploring the world. With 300+ projects in 40+ destinations, IVHQ offers the widest selection of volunteer programs globally from Teaching and Childcare to Wildlife Conservatio
Volunteer World
0
0
Psychology internships abroad are the perfect opportunity for psychology students to gain some work experience while traveling abroad. Mental health is a topic that is often overlooked, especially in developing countries, so the help of skilled and dedicated volunteers is very much needed. Whatev
See All 2 ProgramsELEP Volunteer & Internship Programs
0
0
Gain professional experience in engineering while working with a firm or business in Ecuador through ELEP. As an intern, you support current projects that align with your studies and specialization. Select an internship consistent with your interests and goals. Ecuador offers a diverse range of se
See All 20 ProgramsRealStep
0
0
This veterinary internship abroad takes place in an animal rescue center in Puyo, Ecuador, located in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The center provides care for animals that have been abused, orphaned, or rescued from illegal wildlife trade within Ecuador. During this program, participants wor
Manna Project International
0
0
Learn from and in the Amazon Rainforest—all while helping conserve and teach about sustainability! Join Manna Project International in this opportunity to preserve and grow sustainability and ecotourism in indigenous Kichwa communities in Ecuador's Amazon Rainforest. As an intern, you'll collabora
See All 2 ProgramsA Guide to Interning Abroad in Ecuador
Locations
Quito and Guayaquil are the country’s main urban hubs, and they are also the key centers for internships in Ecuador as well as experiential placement organizations. Cuenca is also a large charming city with intern opportunities. While there are wildlife, biology, and environmental studies internships in both the rainforest and the Galapagos Islands, they are typically short-term internships.
Quito is a colonial city with an ancient Incan history. Cobblestone roads lined with churches built on top of indigenous temples dot the city. Quito offers both modern marketing, advertising, and journalism internships and the indigenous population provides placements in social welfare projects, human rights, and other development agencies. The climate in Quito is also appealing and much milder than Guayaquil in the south.
Guayaquil was once a major port city with little appeal to tourists, and not so pleasant for the natives either. Today, thanks to the Malecón 2000 urban redevelopment project, the downtown area is one of the most beautiful city centers in Latin America. The addition of museums, banks, businesses, urban renewal, and even an eco park on an island have all helped to create some great internships in Guayaquil.
Cuenca is another beautiful destination located in the highlands of Ecuador. The city itself is a UNESCO world heritage site. Cuenca and its surrounding communities afford some professional internships, with meaningful, customized agendas.
Internship Placements
Placements range from business, international relations, journalism, tourism, and marketing to ecology, marine studies, and agriculture. Human-focused internships in Ecuador are most often related to human rights, social work, health, and education.
Ecuador is a relatively welcoming country so arranging an internship in Ecuador can be quite easy and the types of commitments vary. From short three week internships to two months or more.
Some of the more unusual internship programs in Ecuador include: working with the national bank (which helped change Ecuador’s currency over to the US dollar), interning with a marketing firm that managed the Nike account in Guayaquil, interning with an animal reintroduction project in Quito, and working with an agricultural co-op in a small indian village outside Quito.
Salary & Costs
Virtually all internships in Ecuador are unpaid. Occasionally, a rare paid internship will be promoted on GoAbroad, but responses are typically overwhelming and the program listing does not stay up very long. Paid internships offer certain advantages including solid support services, flexibility in duration and orientation, as well as housing and Spanish language classes. Prices range from a couple hundred US dollars for placement only, to a couple thousand euros for an all inclusive placement.
While unpaid internships are the norm, Ecuador is incredibly affordable even by South American standards. An intern can expect to spend a few hundred dollars to a thousand dollars a month for room, board, and local transportation. With most development internships, housing is included.
Accommodation & Visas
Accommodations range from shared apartments to shared rooms in a homestay. Most housing options for interns in Ecuador, which are provided by placement organizations, are private flats or rooms which are included for an additional price. Ecuador is a great place to stay with a family if you have the option. You will get to speak Spanish, have live in cultural consultants, and get to eat truly authentic local cuisine.
Visitors will receive a 90-day visa upon arrival. Visa extensions can be arranged once you’re in Ecuador. While the labor laws in Ecuador are extensive and support the working class, they do not extend to interns. Internships are not a common practice for local students. As such, internship placement organizations in Ecuador will sometimes pay a local organization to make sure you receive support and have a high quality experience. Other placements are familiar with the rewards and challenges of hosting an intern, and are doing so because they enjoy it or benefit from it.
Benefits & Challenges
- Internships in business require a more formal approach to interning, professional dress and attitude are required.
- Respect, titles, and cordialities are all expected. While Ecuador often practices a Latin American approach to punctuality and time in general, you will still be expected to be on time.
- Since the country in general is not accustomed to hosting interns, placements often do not know what to expect. Sometimes those who intern in Ecuador like the independence they are given to create their own projects, but other times they dislike the lack of structure.
- Interns in Ecuador who do best are serious, focused, and self driven.
Popular Providers
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I intern in Ecuador?
You may try searching for program providers to recommend the best matches for your preferences and skills or look through your university to find internships in Ecuador. Placements range from business, ecology, social work, health, education, and more!
Is Ecuador safe?
Ecuador is generally safe for travel, but staying alert in larger cities is advised as incidents of petty crimes may occur. The country is also prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, so it is important to be informed and obey safety protocols.
What language do they speak in Ecuador?
The majority of communities speak Spanish as an official language, followed by Ecuador's indigenous languages. English is mostly spoken in cities, tourism industries, and schools teaching English as a second language.
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