Volunteer: Public Health Medical Placement in Ecuador

About the role

Gain hands-on experience in public health and medicine while living in the heart of the Amazon. This is an opportunity for passionate and curious interns to explore healthcare delivery in rural and underserved communities while strengthening their medical Spanish skills.

Responsibilities

• Shadow healthcare professionals and contribute to public health campaigns
• Support rural health visits or shadow workshops on topics like nutrition, reproductive health, or disease prevention
• Create brochures, analyze local data, or help coordinate school health campaigns
• Live with host families in Indigenous communities
• Explore the nutritional benefits of plants grown in the chakra
• Connect with local healers or join in preparing medicinal plants
• Engage in daily life activities such as hiking, storytelling, and free travel time

Requirements

• Minimum 4 weeks commitment, recommended 8-12 weeks
• Academic and/or professional experience in a related field
• Full travel & medical insurance
• Necessary vaccinations
• Necessary visa costs (Most nationalities are granted a 3-month tourist visa automatically upon arrival, and you can extend this for a fee while in-country. Always check specific visa requirements based on your nationality)

Benefits

• Gain practical experience in public health and rural medicine
• Improve medical Spanish in real-world settings
• Support local hospitals and clinics in underserved communities
• Learn about Indigenous health practices and cultural resilience
• Participate in public health campaigns and community wellness initiatives
• Experience daily life in the Amazon through homestays with host families

Costs

• $750 USD for the 1st week, $550 USD* for each week thereafter
• Currency conversions are approximate. Use xe.com for up to date currency conversion rates
• All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee
• Places are confirmed with a 1 week deposit

Travel & Accom.

• The best airport to fly into is Mariscal Sucre International Airport (UIO) in Quito, Ecuador’s capital
• Interns need to arrive to Quito no later than the night before their orientation begins
• On the morning of orientation, a staff member schedules a taxi to pick interns up and bring them to Tena for training; they just have to pay the driver upon arrival
• Interns stay in Tena during orientation, and the cost of the accommodation is provided
• The rest of the program is spent living with a local host family

What’s Included

• Accommodation during orientation
• Accommodation and 3 meals a day with a host family. Includes a private room, bathroom, all bedding, and place to do laundry
• Guided pre-departure preparation
• In-country orientation that addresses risk management, culture shock, cross-cultural adaptation skills, history/culture/politics of Ecuador and the Amazon, team-building, goal-setting, and more
• 1:1 check-ins every week
• 24/7 emergency support
• Network of doctors, therapists, and Spanish tutors in-country
• Access to network of experts and information databases for research support
• Exit interview and end-of-program reflection
• Alumni group and future references

What’s not included

• Costs of flights and visa
• Costs of vaccinations
• $15 per day for food during orientation training
• Personal transportation
• Any other activities outside of scheduled program activities (white water rafting, yoga, workshops, guided jungle hikes, etc.)

Premium Support Upgrade

We understand there's a great deal to plan and organize for your trip. When booking a Placement, many of our participants choose to purchase our Premium Support Upgrade to benefit from the expertise, knowledge, and experience of our Project Coordinators. We can provide the personal advice you need to ensure your trip is organized with excellence and planned with efficiency; ensuring the very best experience possible. Read more about how we can help you.

Note

Tena, Napo, Ecuador
Note: Map coordinates are approximate