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Cloud Forest Wildlife Research Internship in Ecuador logo

Cloud Forest Wildlife Research Internship in Ecuador

by: Roots Interns

5 (1)VerifiedSince 2016

Conduct in-field research on endemic species of flora and fauna in the Cloud Forest. This is an incredible opportunity for aspiring conservation workers and biology students. Since 2009, the organization has been operating in La Hesperia Cloud Forest Reserve. This is an area of unique significance to cloud forest conservation. It is the meeting point of two of South America’s biodiversity hotspots and home to an incredible number of endemic species. They conduct long-term research on specific species to identify important habitats to protect and develop sustainable farming practices. They also function in a number of advocacy and community outreach capacities. As a participant in this program, you’ll help maintain and develop their various research projects. The organization tends to have a few different projects in operation, so there's great scope for a variety of work. You could be setting camera traps to study large cats or capuchins, working on sustainable chocolate production initiatives, or assisting with other projects. You can also develop your own projects and propose them.

Program Highlights

Gain incredible in-field scientific research experience

Study endemic species in the Ecuadorian Cloud Forest

Contribute to the furtherment of conservation science

Live and work in the Cloud Forest

Learn about sustainable methods in the reserve

Quick Details

Locations:
  • Pichincha, Ecuador
Starts At: Less than $100
Availability
Duration:
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 9-12 Weeks
Age Requirement: 18-35
Types & Subjects
Fields:
  • Biology
  • Education
  • Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
Causes:
  • Biological Research
  • Community Centers
  • Community Development
  • Conservation
  • Education
  • Wildlife
Guidelines
Nationalities:
  • Albanian
  • American
  • Andorran
  • Antarctica
  • Antiguan & Barbudan
  • Argentinian
  • Armenian
  • Aruban
  • Asian
  • Australian
  • Austrian
  • Azerbaijani
  • Bahamian
  • Bahraini
  • Barbadian
  • Belarusian
  • Belgian
  • Belizean
  • Bermudian
  • Bhutanese
  • Bissau-Guinean
  • Bolivian
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnian
  • Brazilian
  • British
  • British Virgin Islander
  • Bruneian
  • Bulgarian
  • Cambodian
  • Canadian
  • Cape Verdean
  • Caymanian
  • Channel Islander
  • Chilean
  • Chinese
  • Colombian
  • Comoran
  • Cook Islander
  • Costa Rican
  • Creole
  • Croatian
  • Cuban
  • Curacao
  • Cypriot
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dominican
  • Dutch
  • Ecuadorian
  • Egyptian
  • Emirati
  • English
  • Estonian
  • European
  • Fijian
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Gibraltarian
  • Greek
  • Greenlandic
  • Grenadian
  • Guadeloupian
  • Guatemalan
  • Guinean
  • Guyanese
  • Haitian
  • Hawaiian
  • Honduran
  • Hungarian
  • I-Kiribati
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Iranian
  • Iraqi
  • Irish
  • Israeli
  • Italian
  • Jamaican
  • Japanese
  • Jordanian
  • Kazakhstani
  • Kittitian, Nevisian
  • Kiwi
  • Korean
  • Kuwaiti
  • Kyrgyzstani
  • Lao or Laotian
  • Latvian
  • Lebanese
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuanian
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonian
  • Malagasy
  • Malaysian
  • Maldivian
  • Malian
  • Maltese
  • Manx
  • Marshallese
  • Martiniquais
  • Mauritanian
  • Mauritian
  • Mexican
  • Micronesian
  • Moldovan
  • Monegasque
  • Mongolian
  • Montenegrin
  • Montserratian
  • Moroccan
  • multi
  • Myanmar
  • Nauruan
  • Nepalese
  • New Caledonian
  • Ni-Vanuatu
  • Nicaraguan
  • Niuean
  • Norwegian
  • Omani
  • Palauan
  • Palestinian
  • Panamanian
  • Papua New Guinean
  • Paraguayan
  • Peruvian
  • Polish
  • Polynesian
  • Portuguese
  • Puerto Rican
  • Qatari
  • Reunionese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Saban
  • Sahrawian, Sahraouian
  • Saint Helenian
  • Saint Lucian
  • Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
  • Salvadoran
  • Sammarinese
  • Samoan
  • Sao Tomean
  • Saudi Arabian
  • Scottish
  • Serbian
  • Serbian; Montenegrin
  • Seychelles
  • Singaporean
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Solomon Islander
  • Spanish
  • St. Barts
  • Statian
  • Surinamese
  • Swedish
  • Swiss
  • Syrian
  • Tahiti
  • Taiwanese
  • Tajikistani
  • Thai
  • The Vatican
  • Tibet
  • Timorese
  • Tongan
  • Trinidadian, Tobagonian
  • Turkish
  • Turkmen
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Tuvaluan
  • Ukrainian
  • Uruguayan
  • Uzbekistani
  • Venezuelan
  • Vietnamese
  • Virgin Islander
  • Welsh
  • Yemeni
See all program details
Last Updated: Jan 15, 2026

Awards

Innovative New Program, Intern Abroad Winner 2022Innovative New Program – Intern Abroad Finalist 2022

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

5

Total Reviews

1

Organic Farming in the Tropical Cloud Forest of Ecuador

March 13, 2025by: Jos Prim
5

I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in small-scale organic farming. The balance between work and play daily and the balance between work and travel weekly was perfect for me. Being surrounded by tropical cloud forest was a dream come true. I learned so much about organic plant and animal agriculture and gained practical skills I can use moving forward working with localized food systems!

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Pichincha, Ecuador

Types and Subjects

  • Fields
  • Biology
  • Education
  • Zoology & Wildlife Sciences
  • Causes
  • Biological Research
  • Community Centers
  • Community Development
  • Conservation
  • Education
  • Wildlife

Availability

Duration:
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 9-12 Weeks
Intern Duration:
  • 1-3 Months

Age Requirement

18-35

Guidelines

Nationalities:
  • Albanian
  • American
  • Andorran
  • Antarctica
  • Antiguan & Barbudan
  • Argentinian
  • Armenian
  • Aruban
  • Asian
  • Australian
  • Austrian
  • Azerbaijani
  • Bahamian
  • Bahraini
  • Barbadian
  • Belarusian
  • Belgian
  • Belizean
  • Bermudian
  • Bhutanese
  • Bissau-Guinean
  • Bolivian
  • Bonaire
  • Bosnian
  • Brazilian
  • British
  • British Virgin Islander
  • Bruneian
  • Bulgarian
  • Cambodian
  • Canadian
  • Cape Verdean
  • Caymanian
  • Channel Islander
  • Chilean
  • Chinese
  • Colombian
  • Comoran
  • Cook Islander
  • Costa Rican
  • Creole
  • Croatian
  • Cuban
  • Curacao
  • Cypriot
  • Czech
  • Danish
  • Dominican
  • Dutch
  • Ecuadorian
  • Egyptian
  • Emirati
  • English
  • Estonian
  • European
  • Fijian
  • Finnish
  • French
  • Georgian
  • German
  • Gibraltarian
  • Greek
  • Greenlandic
  • Grenadian
  • Guadeloupian
  • Guatemalan
  • Guinean
  • Guyanese
  • Haitian
  • Hawaiian
  • Honduran
  • Hungarian
  • I-Kiribati
  • Icelandic
  • Indonesian
  • Iranian
  • Iraqi
  • Irish
  • Israeli
  • Italian
  • Jamaican
  • Japanese
  • Jordanian
  • Kazakhstani
  • Kittitian, Nevisian
  • Kiwi
  • Korean
  • Kuwaiti
  • Kyrgyzstani
  • Lao or Laotian
  • Latvian
  • Lebanese
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuanian
  • Luxembourg
  • Macedonian
  • Malagasy
  • Malaysian
  • Maldivian
  • Malian
  • Maltese
  • Manx
  • Marshallese
  • Martiniquais
  • Mauritanian
  • Mauritian
  • Mexican
  • Micronesian
  • Moldovan
  • Monegasque
  • Mongolian
  • Montenegrin
  • Montserratian
  • Moroccan
  • multi
  • Myanmar
  • Nauruan
  • Nepalese
  • New Caledonian
  • Ni-Vanuatu
  • Nicaraguan
  • Niuean
  • Norwegian
  • Omani
  • Palauan
  • Palestinian
  • Panamanian
  • Papua New Guinean
  • Paraguayan
  • Peruvian
  • Polish
  • Polynesian
  • Portuguese
  • Puerto Rican
  • Qatari
  • Reunionese
  • Romanian
  • Russian
  • Saban
  • Sahrawian, Sahraouian
  • Saint Helenian
  • Saint Lucian
  • Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
  • Salvadoran
  • Sammarinese
  • Samoan
  • Sao Tomean
  • Saudi Arabian
  • Scottish
  • Serbian
  • Serbian; Montenegrin
  • Seychelles
  • Singaporean
  • Slovak
  • Slovenian
  • Solomon Islander
  • Spanish
  • St. Barts
  • Statian
  • Surinamese
  • Swedish
  • Swiss
  • Syrian
  • Tahiti
  • Taiwanese
  • Tajikistani
  • Thai
  • The Vatican
  • Tibet
  • Timorese
  • Tongan
  • Trinidadian, Tobagonian
  • Turkish
  • Turkmen
  • Turks and Caicos
  • Tuvaluan
  • Ukrainian
  • Uruguayan
  • Uzbekistani
  • Venezuelan
  • Vietnamese
  • Virgin Islander
  • Welsh
  • Yemeni

This Program is also open to Solo

Starts At

Less than $100

Program Cost Includes

  • Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
  • Weekday Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • On-Site / In-Country Staff Support
  • Pre-Departure Orientation
  • In-Country Orientation
  • Academic Advising
  • Assistance Booking Travel

Accommodation Options

  • Dormitory
  • Group living

Qualifications & Experience

      Accepted Education Levels

    • University Freshman (1st Year)
    • University Sophomore (2nd Year)
    • University Junior (3rd Year)
    • University Senior (4th Year)
    • University 5th Year or More
    • High School Freshman (1st Year)
    • High School Sophomore (2nd Year)
    • High School Junior (3rd Year)
    • High School Senior (4th Year)
    • High School 5th Year or More
    • No schooling completed
    • Grade school to 8th grade
    • Some high school, no diploma
    • High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (for example: GED)
    • Some college credit, no degree
    • Trade/technical/vocational training
    • Associate degree
    • Bachelor’s degree
    • Master’s degree
    • Professional degree
    • Doctorate degree

    Application Procedures

    • Online Application
    • Resume

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can this program support my university degree?

    Yes, the data gathered from projects can be used toward your thesis. You can also propose your own project.

    Do I need to know Spanish for this program?

    A basic level of Spanish will be necessary.

    Is a degree necessary for this program?

    Yes, the appropriate candidate for this internship will have completed or is studying toward a degree in biology, conservation, or a related field.

    Roots Interns

    Roots Interns

    5Verified

    Ready to Learn More?

    Conduct in-field research on endemic species of flora and fauna in the Cloud Forest. This is an incredible opportunity for aspiring conservation workers and biology students. Since 2009, the organization has been operating in La Hesperia Cloud Forest Reserve. This is an area of unique significance to cloud forest conservation. It is the meeting point of two of South America’s biodiversity hotspots and home to an incredible number of endemic species. They conduct long-term research on specific species to identify important habitats to protect and develop sustainable farming practices. They also function in a number of advocacy and community outreach capacities. As a participant in this program, you’ll help maintain and develop their various research projects. The organization tends to...

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