Indigenous Plant Medicine & Ethnobotany Internship – Ecuador

I stumbled upon this opportunity as I was looking for a placement in completing my masters of social work degree. I’ve always felt strongly connected to indigenous worldviews, and while looking for a field placement that fit my criteria, so many people told me what I wanted was too specific and maybe search for something in a more broader sense. So happy I followed my heart and found this program through Linked In. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the description: “work with natural healers in the Amazon, make plant medicines, volunteer at the natural birthing centre with the Kichwa mamas” I felt so elated. Going through the process was also straightforward and simple. Andy, the founder of the program did an interview with me to make sure I was a fit for this experience and I teared up by the end of it. So much alignment in feeling like I found a likeminded individual who overstand the importance of connecting with the first peoples of these lands and learning from their potent and magical lineage. Also, in a strengths focused, empowered way. Andy has been actively building relationships and a healthy rapport with these communities and the families for over a decade, and actually curated a program that’s immersive and heart centred. I spent 7 weeks in tena during this program, the most transformative 7 weeks of my life. I ALWAYS felt safe, and supported during my stay. I met the most incredible people, and felt apart of this community in so many beautiful ways. I’m excited to bring my loved ones with me and go back for another round in the near future, I think everyone who’s even just a smidge curious about natural medicine should experience this program. You get sooooo much more out of this than what’s inputted in the description. Thank you SO much for all the learning and gifts this opportunity has brought into my life, im a better person for it.

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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

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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!

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 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 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 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 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 got twice a tour of Amupakin and filmed it, got a limpia, hung up signs with the names of plants and helped decorate for an event. At Elena's and Clemente's house I made two balms, got a tour in the chakra, and made a maito. At Mamallacta I helped making ayahuasca, and at Pakarina I collected coca leaves and made tools for making ceramics. I would have loved to have focused more on one project so I could contribute more, but on the other hand I have now seen many places and learned a lot about the surrounding communities. It was a pity that I could not meet Andy in person but he was out of the country unfortunately. He did however put much effort in the calls and provided me with a lot of important and interesting information. Mirka was very lovely and was really good in translating everything and checking in every now and then. She also put a lot of effort in making sure that the activities matched with my interests and gave me a lot of freedom in deciding what I wanted to do — thanks a lot for that, Mirka! What was most impactful was all of the above, and also interacting with locals. For a moment you are pulled firmly from your familiar environment and have to deal with your new living environment. That uneasy feeling made me feel alive and gave me the idea that I was making huge personal leaps. Living in the forest made me feel much healthier, in body and mind — I slept a lot, ate healthy meals. Because there were very few stimuli and distractions in the area where I was staying, I had to enjoy myself in other ways, which resulted in many special moments with my host family. Once we went camping at the old finca and had beautiful conversations about their family's history while being accompanied by fireflies — I will never forget that moment. Another lesson I learned is the importance of patience. There is a different pace of life in Ecuador, and being more patient gave me a greater sense of gratitude. The most valuable lesson I learned is to be content with what you have and to enjoy the simple things in life. I have learned that I can resonate very well with the tranquility of nature. It provides peace of mind and a deeper connection with everything around me. I could have taken more initiative to focus on one specific project, but in the end I think it all went the way it was supposed to be. This experience has definitely made me think about whether I want to continue my career in horeca — I am thinking about starting my own jewellery line, inspired by my trip in Ecuador. But I would explain to anyone I recommend it to that it will be different from what you would initially expect from the internship.

I LOVE DANI!!!!! Having her to check in with was totally amazing. I really felt so comfortable talking to her about anything, and I felt that she really listened to me. It was really awesome to have her there for me whenever I needed her. MY HOST FAMILY WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was supposed to work with Ricardo on ethnobotany, but it didn't really happen. Walter taught me a bit about medicinal plants and Glida used plants to cure anything I needed, but I worked with Glida on making artisanal jewelry which ended up being awesome! What I'm most proud of is the fact that I was able to connect so well with my host family even through the language barrier. I'm really proud that I was able to open up to them and show them who I am, and I was able to get to know who they all are too. The biggest challenge I faced was the language barrier. I felt frustrated by it sometimes because I felt like I couldn't express myself fully or in the way that I wanted to. But as the days went on I learned to use other ways of communicating to express myself. I think I could have tried to talk more — I am not confident at all in my Spanish skills, but I actually know a lot in Spanish. I found myself not saying very much because I was scared of messing up. From this experience and the language barrier, I especially became an incredible listener. I find myself, even still, taking time to really listen to people and things before responding or reacting. This experience, as I've said in previous answers, has changed my life in all aspects. It has also taught me to be a more mindful person and to be so thankful and grateful for everything in life that I have. I am so grateful for my host family — they made me really feel like part of the family and that was so incredible. I really just feel like a much stronger and more independent person. I absolutely loved every minute of being a part of Amazon Learning and I think it's a really amazing opportunity for young people to be a part of.

I love how supportive and passionate the entire team is — I never felt out of place and I felt so safe at all times. During my internship, I worked on learning about plant spirit medicine and understanding the connectivity and legends behind the sacred plants. Everything was wonderful, honestly. My host family is absolutely lovely — they treated me like I was their own and I felt it deeply. Mirka honestly deserves multiple rewards! She really does give everything she does her all!! We want a raise for Mirka as soon as possible!!!! What I'm most proud of is learning how to communicate with people in Spanish. Looking back, what I learned from that challenge is that when I take my time and be patient, the outcome is abundant and works in my favor. I could have been more familiar with the Spanish slang in Ecuador. Beyond that, I developed trust in myself and my intuition — that was definitely strengthened on this trip. I will be merging plant medicine into my practice to support individuals to heal on multiple levels, and I will continue to make the best choices for myself, because I was shown what that looks like when I was in a completely different country and unknown territory. I am grateful for the independence and freedom I experienced — it really helped me grow as a person. I am telling the whole world!! Everyone should do an internship like this. I love you guys!! Rock on!!!!

I interned with Beyond Travels from May to July 2018. Over the course of 6 weeks, I participated in their Public Health and Traditional Medicine internship in completion of my MPH program’s curriculum. Given my concentration in global health and strong interest in investigating the intersection between Western and traditional health care practices/systems, this direction seemed suitable because it would allow me to engage in an under-researched topic within a global setting. During my interview process, my interviewer was attentive to my interests and expressed flexibility in allowing me to combine aspects of different internships to meet my learning objectives. As part of my internship orientation, I received a cultural competency training in a group setting (this was my first time being exposed to a training of this nature). Take away points from this training established the foundation for my research (including ethical data collection methods). During my internship, I was placed in contact with local community members and experts (I lived with a local family), which enabled me to conduct ethnographic fieldwork. This facilitated a community-involved needs assessment, that informed the development and implementation of a culturally humble health promotion program for older adults. In short, this experienced encouraged my professional growth. Beyond putting theories into practice, I took initiative to achieve my learning objectives, which helped me hone research and leadership skills. Drawing from the successes and challenges of this experience, I feel confident engaging in community needs assessments, as well as developing and implementing health programs in underinvested settings. For anybody wondering, staff members were accessible and responsive to my physical, mental, and spiritual well-being throughout the entirety of my internship. I would highly recommend interning with Beyond Travels!

I was paired with the most amazing host family, who are growing dozens, if not hundreds of medicinal plants in their chakra (permaculture rainforest garden). I learned so much from them, and it was also a good learning experience to be volunteering with Amu Pakín, the Kichwa midwives association. There are also lots of botanical gardens you can go to that have information about medicinal plants. There’s so much to learn, I will definitely be coming back because in two months I barely scratched the surface!

Choosing to go to Ecuador’s Amazon with Beyond Travels was one of the best decisions I ever made. Andy connected me with just the kind of people I wanted to live and work with. It is 6 months later and I still regularly call my host family. I grew so much as a person while I was there and I got to learn and experience things that most people in the world will never get to experience!

This was one of the best experiences of my life and I would recommend spending time with Beyond Travels! The program has a positive atmosphere and everyone I met were amazing. If you have an interest in learning about ethnobotany or traditional Amazonian medicine this is the program for you. I lived and worked with an indigenous family and learned so much about the jungle and myself.