Question 1

How is the internship organized?

Accepted Answer

With a 6-week minimum duration, internships are organized as follows:

Onboarding and skill development encompass the first 6 weeks. If you wish to intern longer, the onboarding phase is followed by a work placement of 2-6 weeks, depending on how long you want to stay.

You will be placed with the IOI team or local partners (partners are Spanish-speaking so you will need a minimum of conversational Spanish skills to be considered).

Question 2

What does the Onboarding and Skill Development entail?

Accepted Answer

This is an intro to IOI, projects, and long-term sustainability strategy. You gain valuable skills, from leadership and management to volunteering and learning how our projects operate and how we manage logistics. Our staff monitors your progress and provides ongoing feedback, including weekly meetings with a mentor. You also earn the Emergency First Response certificate, Leadership Course, and Off-Site Safety Management Training.

Question 3

How does the 2- to 6-week placement work?

Accepted Answer

If you choose to stay for the placement phase after the training period, you will be assigned a placement based on your interest, skills, Spanish level, and current project needs. For 2–6 weeks, further develop your skills while placed with the IOI team and our projects or with one of our local partners.

Question 4

Are there any language requirements?

Accepted Answer

Our local partners are Spanish-speaking, so you must have at least conversational language skills. You can practice and improve during the 6-week onboarding and skill development period. We also have a partner institution that offers an accredited pre-arrival online Spanish course if you would like to learn or brush up on your language skills before arrival. Otherwise, you can get by with no/basic Spanish skills.

Question 5

What fees are not included?

Accepted Answer

Fee includes food, room and board, permits, Transient visa, local coordination and training at respective facility, local transport, full access to our facilities, etc. — everything with the exception of your airfare, personal expenses, travel insurance, the $20 USD Tourist Transit Card fee to Galapagos (cash at Quito/Guayaquil Airports), and the $15 USD visa-holder Galapagos National Park Entrance Fee (cash at the Baltra/San Cristobal Airports).