Sustainable Development Internships in Mexico

Travel to Mexico, the nation of Mayan ruins and breathtaking natural sights. Here, you’ll combine practical experience with plenty of travel opportunities in your spare time. IGS offers internships abroad in the capital, Mexico City, as well as other locations. Get the chance to intern with a company that offers whale shark tours, join a sea turtle hatching project, or work at a regional newspaper publication. Apart from these, you can find placements across a range of fields. Mexico is a perfect destination for everyone, with its blend of historic sites and natural surroundings. In your free time, you can enjoy limitless activities – from exploring a Mayan temple to swimming in a cenote. Take time to visit local communities and share in the unique culture of friendly Mexicans.

GVI offers a program that starts with a 12-week marine conservation expedition, helping you to develop your understanding of marine conservation and to further or establish your scuba diving skills. You will learn how to live and work with a research team in a remote environment and attain base skills essential for your internship the following 12 weeks. During the next phase, you will undertake your PADI Divemaster course, take further advanced training courses, shadow GVI staff, and assist with the running of the expedition. At the end of the 12-week placement, qualifying interns will either be offered paid or unpaid work with GVI or with one of our local partners. GVI is a PADI-endorsed Dive Training Provider and winner of the DAN Member's choice Award for Dive Safety.

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 Conservation, Medical Outreach, and Environmental Sustainability. Since 2007, IVHQ has supported over 147,000 volunteers on life-changing journeys. We specialize in fully-hosted volunteer trips that are safe, affordable, and accessible—starting from just $20 per day. Your experience includes airport pick-up, accommodation, meals, and round-the-clock support from our local teams. With flexible booking options and no change fees, planning your volunteer adventure has never been easier. Our programs run year-round and are available for 1 to 24 weeks across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific, South and Central America, North America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Volunteering with IVHQ is about more than giving back—it’s about growing, learning, and building genuine global connections.

If you are passionate about international development and relations, this is the perfect project for you! Volunteer with several local NGOs that aim to empower and support local underprivileged communities. Depending on your interests and skills, you can focus on issues like immigration, transport and mobility, human rights, or empowerment of women. By working across many areas of the organizations you will gain a well-rounded view of how NGOs work and the challenges they face in achieving their goals.

Spend eight weeks in Mérida, a sunny and culturally rich city where Mayan and Spanish influences shape daily life. Gain professional experience in fields such as education, public health, and hospitality, while immersing yourself in the region’s vibrant traditions and warm community. Enjoy free time exploring ancient archaeological sites, swimming in crystal-clear cenotes, and tasting local dishes like cochinita pibil and sopa de lima. You can also choose to add an optional elective for additional academic credit. All participants take part in the International Internship Seminar, taught in English, which includes 15 hours of online modules. This seminar offers space to reflect on your placement, build professional skills, and better understand Mexico’s work culture. Internships are conducted in Spanish, allowing you to apply your language skills in a meaningful setting while connecting with a global IFSA cohort. This is an exclusive IFSA-designed program.

This exciting program is located in Malinalco, located only 50 km southwest of Mexico City, the capital. Because of its colonial character, it is one of the Pueblos Mágicos (Magic towns). Aldeas de Paz has established a collaboration with a grassroots NGO, one of the most prestigious civil society organizations in the municipality of Malinalco, in central Mexico. This extraordinary and successful NGO was created in 2007 with the aim of promoting community participation to preserve and protect the town's natural, social, historical, and spiritual heritage. Through its programs, FCM activates, builds capacities, accompanies, and finances projects to strengthen the diversity of communities living in Malinalco. The central aim of this joint volunteering program is to be able to enhance peace culture and conflict transformation processes in the forestry field, as well as to strengthen the activities and goals of the Forestry Culture Program of the FCM in the region.

The Science Exchange is the only nonprofit organization offering affordable, customized, field-based sea turtle research internships for undergraduate and graduate science students worldwide. Interns travel to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and other Latin American destinations, where they undertake a range of tasks. They can work at a sea turtle research center on the beach or in a lab, collect field data for research papers, and immerse themselves in the local culture! Upon successful completion, they can earn at least three university credits. We help them publish and present their work at professional conferences. Over 65% of our interns publish with their mentors, and many graduates have landed jobs with sea turtle or other conservation groups! To participate in this international internship program, participants must be at least 18 years of age. Conversational Spanish is desired, but not required. French speakers and Portuguese speakers are welcome. Our interns must be able to live in tropical climates with basic amenities.

Discover high-quality internship placements in Mexico with Intern México. Our mission is to provide the best possible experience for students, graduates, and young professionals seeking personal and professional growth. We offer all-inclusive programs that support you at every step of your journey. From tailored placements linked to a wide range of 24 academic disciplines to cultural immersion, we are dedicated to helping you succeed. Join us and embark on an unforgettable journey that will broaden your horizons, enhance your skills, and provide a life-changing experience.