Int’l Internship & Volunteer Network
Discover Infinite Possibilities
Discover Argentina
Mendoza
Mendoza, nestled in the foothills of the Andes mountain chain in northeastern Argentina, is one of the most beautiful cities in South America. With over 1 million inhabitants, it is busy and bustling.
Mendoza is an ideal location for those who want to have easy access to outdoor activities and sports. Developed from an arid desert area, the cities productivity is maintained through a series of interesting irrigation canals invented during Inca times, which carry melted snow from the Andes throughout the region and into the city itself.
There are excellent restaurants, night life, and important cultural activities with both public and private universities, museums, a major symphony, and art galleries. Mendoza offers a viable and relaxing alternative to the more hectic pace of Buenos Aires, and is the choice of many who want to enjoy the many benefits of the people-friendly atmosphere of a less overwhelming metropolitan setting.
Skiiers, mountaineers, bikers, rafters, trekkers and hikers will feel right at home in this amazing city!
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Program & Placement Opportunities
Applicant Requirements
Start Dates & Program Duration
Program Fees & Inclusions
Accommodations, Meals & Transportation
Application Process ~ Benefits of Participation
Other Important Information
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Program & Placement Opportunities
Mendoza offers a wide variety of opportunities to meet our participant’s needs. Select your field of interest below for further details regarding each opportunity:
Adventure Tourism
Animal/Wildlife Protection
Environmental Protections Agencies
Health Support
Mountain Rescue Training
Private Universities
Adventure Tourism: Participants will have a unique opportunity to work with a highly recognized Adventure Tourism Operator who offers an alternative for companies to motivate and/or entertain it’s employees in an outdoor team environment. The tourism operator customizes and coordinates every detail of the event for the employer team members, including planned team building activities, such as horseback riding, trekking, rafting, rock climbing and rappelling, mountain biking, paragliding, expeditions and canopy adventures.
Participants must possess a strong level of adventure tourism vocabulary terminology, in English and Spanish, in addition to being experienced in the activity of interest they wish to assist in leading team members on.
Animal/Wildlife Protection:
- Work with teams of volunteer veterinarians, biologists and other animal health care workers.
- Recover and rehabilitate wild animals that have been stolen or surrendered, principally from zoos.
Oversee the welfare of the mules that work in the Aconcagua State Park, tracking cases of abuse and providing clear evidence of same; ensuring that injured animals are given time off to recover. These mules face many physical challenges, crossing rivers, climbing mountains, etc.
Prevent abuse of animals forced to perform in circuses (“Circus without Animals Program”), educate the public, especially children, to not see animal suffering in unnatural situations as happens in entertainment. Work toward developing laws to completely prohibit circuses with animals.
- Work with the “Animals Matter to Me” project which considers the mistreatment, whether direct or indirect, of animals as a link to delinquency, family violence, sexual abuse and even homicide by tracking and reporting cases of animal abuse.
- Presentations in local elementary and high schools to teach children how to prevent illegal trafficking of wildlife and flora from the Mendoza area.
- Participation in local events and fairs; organize courses and conferences.
- Work with volunteer inspectors to enforce laws that protect animals, plants, preserves and fisheries, as well as health and environmental control by policing of the roads and highways of the Province in search of infractions of the laws governing protection of same.
Environmental Protection Agencies:
- Maintenance of Andes mountain areas, as well as rural and urban areas.
- Working with local citizenry to promote environmental programs;
- Working to help resolve conflicts, promoting free access to information about environmental issues so that locals can become more educated and thus involved in decision-making. This also involves working with local government, educational institutions and businesses.
Health Support: Many opportunities exist in Mendoza for participants to support a variety of health care issues. An example of these include;
- Working with a foundation dedicated to helping cancer patients improve their quality of life. This opportunity is best suited for those interested in research and fundraising. The staff of the organization needing assistance helps to assess the state of the health of the patients and help them to plan for their future needs. Help is needed in the areas of economic planning, accounting, marketing and involvement in the social needs of patients. This association provides support and help to both adults and children with cancer and their families. There are weekly workshops to train volunteers and keep them motivated.
- Participants also have an opportunity to work with a local non-profit organization which provides housing to those who live more than 50 km from Mendoza and are from families of modest income. The Foundation also has a project which focuses upon the human rights of the cancer patients.
Mountain Rescue Training: The Int’l Internship & Volunteer Network is proud to introduce the most unique and exciting opportunity ever offered by our organization!
Participants will work with the Mountain Search and Rescue Service Unit in Parque Aconcagua. Mount Aconcagua, 6962 meters above sea level, is located in the province of Mendoza, on the border of Chile and Argentina, in what is called Aconcagua Provincial Park.
Aconcagua is a preferred destination due to the physical and psychological demands it poses to climbers, its climate and the beauty of the surrounding scenery. It is the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the most sought after in the seven-thousand meter circuit. It is also special as an introduction to big heights since its elevation and geographic and weather conditions constitute an ideal setting both for moderate demands and as preparation for the more exacting challenges posed by the eight-thousand meter and other peaks in the Himalayas.
The "Colossus of America" is the goal of climbers from all over the world, as well as an attraction to thousands of tourists per year who come to enjoy its natural beauty and treasure this unique and magnificent experience.
Since 1990 Aconcagua Park has had a park ranger service which controls the protected area and helps the visiting climbers. This service is present in all the base camps and often in the ascent routes. The park administration is located in Horcones and from there the work of the different camps is coordinated, mainly those in which the park rangers are always present such as Confluencia, Plaza de Mulas, Nido de Cóndores, Punta de Vacas, Pampa de Leñas and Plaza Argentina.
In Aconcagua, as in any mountain this size, there is a rescue team in charge of helping with any risky situation related to a medical emergency or an evacuation. This task is performed by the rescue team of the Mendoza Police Department. Its goal is to safeguard the lives of the visitors on the Normal Route
from Plaza de Mulas to the summit and to take them to the medical service of the Administration of Natural Resources from where the evacuation is coordinated to the park exit.
The routes on the South wall and on the Polish Glacier are not included in the regular coverage of the patrols since they are considered high risk; therefore, those climbers who choose them must take all the necessary precautions in case of an emergency. The park rangers constantly monitor what is happening on these routes in VHF, 24 hours a day.
Many people participate in the rescue operations such as park rangers, guides and other climbers as patrol assistants, due to the danger of descending a sick person from the altitude camps, mainly due to the geography of this park and the long distances between the different camps. Climbers must be aware that even if there is a rescue team, they should not take unnecessary risks beyond their strength. Help may take several hours to arrive as long as they receive the corresponding warning. This is why we recommend maximum care and caution to avoid problems. No one is given the right to risk his or her life, especially members of the rescue team!
Housing is provided during the Mountain Rescue training. Participants are encouraged to leave a donation at the end of their stay in the form of sleeping bags, tents, etc. for the mountain rescue patrols. All participants must show evidence of insurance, physical fitness and psychological readiness to participate.
Due to the unique nature of this program, there are only two (2) opportunities available annually from November through April 1. For those looking for a short term experience, we also have two (2) opportunities available for November-February and two (2) for February to April.
Private Universities:
· Fundraising
· Teaching assistant in certain departments in local universities
· Computer science
· Artificial intelligence
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Start Dates & Program Duration
Placements are available Year-Round!
Just let us know your preferred start and end dates and we will customize a program that fits your needs!
Note: January is a very difficult month to acquire placements in
Argentina, as they recognize “summer holidays” during this month.
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Accommodations, Meals & Transportation
Accommodations: Although housing is not included in our “independent” programs, unless otherwise noted, we will be happy to provide you with resources and recommendations for options that are affordable, safe and in an area convenient to your placement location. It is the participants’ responsibility to secure and confirm their housing arrangements. 
Housing is available in family homes, furnished flats, hostels and hotels. With a family, you can get a room for about $350 USD - $450 USD a month, including breakfast and dinner. These homes have been specially selected, families have been interviewed, and there are a few rules in order to make the cohabitation easier.
Flats rent for about $500 USD to $600 USD per month (for 1 to 4 people) plus services are about $50-$70 USD per month. You may visit www.residencialezica.com.ar for more information. Furnished apartments range from $500 USD to $800 USD or more according commodities. For further information, visit
www.alojargentina.com, www.bytargentina.com and www.residencialezica.com.ar.
Hostels offer varied rates and private or shared rooms. We recommend you look for those that belong to Hostelling International, they are clean, safe and friendly, and all around the country. For more information, visit www.hostels.com.ar.
Currency Exchange/Bank Machines/ATM's: Argentina’s Currency is Pesos Argentinos. For information regarding currency exchange rates, we invite you to visit the following link; OANDA Currency Converter.
ATMs in Mendoza: are readily available 24 hrs a day. It is to use the ATM during banking hours, for safety reasons.
Ground Transportation: We are pleased to provide all participants with transportation to/from the airport of the host country to their housing location. Travel within Argentina is facilitated by multiple plane, train and bus routes, and Santiago, Chile, is only an hour and a half away by plane across the Andes mountains.
There are multiple means of transportation around Mendoza: five lines of subtes (the abbreviated dname for subterrÂneo (subway), more than one hundred lines of colectivos (name for  “buses” in Buenos Aires) and inter-urban railways (or trains). Taxis and remises are very common means of transport because they are safer and more economical than in other cities. $100 per month is more than enough to spend on transportation.
Language: In order to function effectively in your internship, participants must have an intermediate+ level of the Spanish language, unless a specific placement states otherwise. We are happy to provide tutor and university language options if interested.
Meals: Independent Program participants will be on their own for all meals. Food in Mendoza is not expensive and the restaurants are very good. If you plan on spending around $200 USD per month on food, this is more than enough. Sometimes when renting a room in a family house, they may include dinner and/or breakfast.
Vaccinations Required: We recommend participants personally contact their primary care physician to determine exact vaccinations that are required for their trip.
Additional vaccination information may be found by visiting the following links;
Center for Disease Control - Provides country by country health information for international travel. Includes vaccine recommendations, health recommendations, updates on disease outbreaks, with descriptions and recommended treatment.
World Health Organization - Can view risks by country or by disease. Provides vaccination requirements, information on accidents, infectious diseases, and traveler checklist. Provides health and disease alerts.
Visa & Other "Legal Document" Requirements: Participants will need to obtain a TOURIST VISA to enter Argentina. A Tourist Visa permits entry up to a maximum of three (3) months and may be renewed by leaving the country and re-entering for an additional three (3) months. The fee for a renewed tourist visa runs approximately $100 Argentine pesos (approximately $35.00 US).
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Other Important Information
When planning a trip to Mendoza, you should budget spending about $700 USD - $1000 USD per month. This will cover your housing, food, transportation and social activities.
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Apply for a Program
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