GAIN REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SEE THE WORLD.
Design & deliver a hands-on, personalised Internship in Biology & Endemic Ecology to develop your resume and gain real-world experience, while making a real difference to rural communities in the majestic Ecuadorian Andes.
Help protect Andean biodiversity while reconnecting people with the ecosystems that sustain their lives.
The Challenge
The Ecuadorian Andes are one of the most diverse regions on Earth, where steep valleys, cloud forests, and traditional farmlands coexist in a fragile balance. This biodiversity—rich in endemic species, pollinators, and native crops—has long sustained both people and ecosystems. Yet, it now faces unprecedented threats. Expanding agriculture, deforestation, and the intensive use of agrochemicals are degrading the soil, contaminating rivers, and reducing the abundance of native flora and fauna. The loss of pollinators, birds, and medicinal plants affects food security and community wellbeing alike. As migration increases and ancestral ecological knowledge fades, many families lose their connection to the land and the sustainable practices that once ensured harmony between humans and nature. Without immediate action, this irreplaceable biodiversity—and the culture it supports—could be lost forever.
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The Solution
At El Terreno, we believe that protecting biodiversity starts with understanding and community collaboration. This internship invites you to explore the local ecosystems of the Andes through fieldwork, research, and conservation activities that combine science with cultural awareness. Whether documenting native species, supporting reforestation, or designing environmental education projects, you’ll work alongside local families to co-create solutions that restore nature and strengthen the bond between people and their land.
Recommended by Previous Participants
Since 2021, We've Hosted Over 250 Participants from 40 Countries
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Advance Your Career!
Gain hands-on experience in biodiversity and conservation with the support of trained mentors to expand your knowledge and build your confidence.
Now more than ever, employers are looking for a resume with diverse experiences, certificates and strong references that an internship provides.
"Great experience to learn from and enjoy"
I loved the experience. Joshua is open for the different goals and experiences people strive for, making it easy to create a well suited programme. It allowed me to develop myself in a new environment wherein I could learn new things as well as giving something back.
Living with the other interns was a really pleasant experience. The group activities we organised made the work / travelling experience nicely balanced. Lastly the location, Atandahua itself is a rural quiet place, in the direct surroundings there is enough to do during the week and the central location allows for easy trips throughout Ecuador during the weekends.
Jasha from the Netherlands (Ecology & Sustainable Agriculture)
Results from Past Internships
Check out this final presentation from previous interns, to see what they've achieved during their time here
What's Included?
Pre-Arrival
Free Discovery Call with our Founder
Personalised Changemaker Plan
Pre-Arrival Logistics & Orientation
Documentation Support (credits / funding / university requirements)
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Accommodation
Single-sex Dormitories (≤4 beds per room)
Cooked Lunches (Mon-Fri)
Washing Service (1x per week)
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Projects
Arrival Onboarding & Orientations
Weekly 1:1s and Reflection Sessions
Bilingual Project Coordination
Professional Mentoring (1hr/wk)
Participatory Methodology & Tools
Community & Institutional Collaboration
Site Visit Coordination
Accident Insurance
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Personal & Professional Development
Weekly Group Workshops
Monthly Ancestral Ceremonies
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Free Time
Free Time Activity Recommendation
Language Exchange Evenings in Guaranda
Weekly International Shared Meals
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Post-Departure
Certificate of Completion
Written Professional Reference
LinkedIn Recommendation
Alumni Network
¿What's Not Included?
Pre-Arrival
Flights or Expenses to Reach Us
Visas or Vaccines​
Project Costs
Additional Project Costs:
(e.g. materials, transport, site visits, and coordinator / mentor expenses)​
**However, you can apply for a $50 project microgrant and/or we can support you to create a crowdfunding campaign to send through your networks.
We are a small independent organisation and receive no external funds for our programmes.
Your contribution is used to exclusively to deliver you the best internship programme possible!
PROGRAMME PRICING
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LONG-STAY RESIDENCIES​​​​​
Make more impact with a longer stay
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Get 12 Weeks for the Price of 10
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EARLY BIRD​​​​​
Book within 2 weeks of your Discovery Call and choose between
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1:1 Preparation Call w/ our Founder ​
+1 hour Mentoring per Week
$50 towards Additional Services
Additional Services
6-Week Pre-Arrival Spanish & Cultural Essentials Course
Airport Transfer
Private Room / Family Homestay
Breakfast Ingredients
Breakfast Meals (Mon - Fri)
Dinner Meals (Mon - Fri)
Additional Mentoring
Health Insurance
Monthly Ancestral Ceremonies
Language Classes (1/wk)
Cultural Activity (1/wk)
Changemaker Coaching Programme
The Ideal Candidate
Existing skills & experience in the project theme is preferred, but not essential. Bilingual coordinators will help with community engagement — but you will get much more if you come with at least B1 Spanish.
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What is essential is a hard-working, professional attitude with passion for making a difference. To thrive in rural Ecuador, you need to be positive, adaptable and a good collaborator.
Mutual respect for communal living, the lived experience from locals and the El Terreno team is key.
Application Process
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Fill out the online interest form
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Participate in your discovery call, free of charge
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Review your personalised internship plan, free of charge
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Place your deposit & confirm your place
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Complete any required documents for your education provider
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Join us for an unforgettable experience in the Ecuadorian Andes!
Gain Experience.
Make a Difference.
Travel the World.
Imagine waking up to the cockerels at dawn as the sun rises over the horizon as you take in Chimborazo volcano over your morning coffee. After breakfast, walk down to meet your mentor, stopping to say hello to the friendly neighbours in the community as they take their cows to pasture.
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Spend an hour to talk through your plans with your mentor, deepening your technical knowledge and finding out how to implement it within the local environment. Then take a trip into the colonial city of Guaranda to do some shopping and stop at a café to do some more research. Get back in time for lunch, which you spend with the rest of the team and workers from the local community, sharing stories and learning about the local culture.
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Meet with your coordinator in the afternoon, to plan your pilot project or present your findings to the local community, before joining other interns and volunteers to go and watch the sunset, go out to a local bar/restaurant or simply spend the evening learning more from your host family.
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Still not sure what a hands-on in the Ecuadorian Andes would look like? Speak to our team who will create you a personalised internship plan to give you a glimpse into the future, all free of charge.
