Internship Abroad in Ecuador: The FAQs

For stays not exceeding 90 days, no visa must be applied for in advance. Those who would like to stay in Ecuador for an internship, in addition, must apply for a tourist or volunteer visa for Ecuador at the embassy before entering the country.

Quito is located at an altitude of 2,850 m. The highest mountains in Ecuador are over 6,000 meters high. So you need a little time to get used to the climatic conditions. But after two to three days, the body should have got used to the altitude. Recommendable, not only for people with respiratory diseases, is a visit to the family doctor before the trip.

During their stay in Ecuador the interns, volunteers, and trainee teachers stay with host families. There they will have their own room and 3 meals a day. All host families are carefully selected and have several years of experience in accommodating foreign students. They can be married couples, but also single persons with or without children or pets. All host families are located in the immediate vicinity of the internship place.

Of course, there is the possibility of trips and excursions within Ecuador. During the internship, this possibility exists, on weekends or after work. After the internship, this possibility is also given. However, it is important to note that you should not exceed the duration of your stay, which is given by the visa.

Ecuador offers many possibilities for excursions. You can go "whale watching" tours, hike in the Amazon, climb the mountains, explore the markets in cities like Quito or enjoy the beaches. Don't miss the world-famous Galapagos Islands.

City buses and taxis e.g. in Quito are very cheap. The destinations of the buses are listed on the front windows. The buses stop on hand signals at almost every corner, so that one can easily get in and out. There are also plenty of taxis in the cities. The drivers stop at hand signals and during the day the taximeter is switched on. In the evening, the fare should be negotiated in advance.

To be behind the wheel yourself, you need an international driver's license. This must be presented when renting a car. Otherwise, one should be vigilant in traffic, especially in large cities, as a rather reckless driving style is the order of the day.

Our former interns and volunteers have never questioned security in Ecuador. In the local host family, you will be welcomed like a member of the family and you will also be made aware of possible security gaps. Especially in larger cities, at tourist attractions and in public transport, theft or robbery can of course occur. Therefore you should always take good care of your bags and valuables. Jewelry, cameras, and watches should not be worn conspicuously. As soon as it gets dark, you should also use a taxi for short distances.

General vaccinations such as tetanus, diphtheria, and hepatitis A are recommended. For longer stays vaccinations against hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, malaria, and yellow fever should not be missing. Before a trip, you should always consult your family doctor or a doctor for tropical diseases, also to avoid possible intolerances.

Since 2000, the US dollar has been the country's official currency. This replaced the old currency, Sucre. The national Centavo coins are still in circulation. Due to numerous cases of counterfeit banknotes, 50 and 100-US dollar notes are not accepted by shops and banks. Traveler cheques and credit cards can be used, but withdrawing money should only be done during business hours. Likewise, you should never carry large amounts of cash with you.

In Ecuador, there is a 100V alternating current grid like in the USA. Devices should be switchable to this voltage accordingly. An adapter is also required. You can already buy this in Germany, but also locally.

Using your German mobile phone in Ecuador can be difficult or even impossible. Only devices that run on 850 Mega Herz networks are functional. We recommend the many small internet cafés that you can find everywhere.

For the duration of your stay in Ecuador, you should take out an International Health Insurance. We recommend the international health insurance of the ADAC or STAtravel.

Ecuador is one of the countries that can be visited all year round. The temperatures within the seasons vary only slightly. Due to the different altitudes, however, extreme temperature fluctuations can occur. Therefore the temperatures are between 15 and 35 degrees.

Internships in Ecuador are generally not remunerated, as the government has strict regulations regarding the work of foreigners.