Business Internships in Belize
Belize has a stable and healthy economy, based primarily on tourism, agriculture, and services. English is used as an official language and the country is popular for foreign investors. Business internships in Belize are typically provided through small local businesses, working within the service or tourism industries. If you’re interested in a culturally diverse experience, come prepared to gain transferable skills, relevant for diverse careers and sectors.
Internship Highlights:
- Use immersive soft skills such as critical thinking, leadership, organization, and communication.
- Practice technical skills related to finance, marketing, project management and analysis.
- Gain insight into how entrepreneurs adapt and work dynamically.
Type of host organizations:
- Local small businesses
- Industry Development agencies
- Entrepreneurship hubs
- Agriculture and agribusiness
Internship details
Business internships in Belize offer broad opportunities to get involved with different aspects of operations - be they focused on finance, marketing, sales, strategy, research or other essential areas. Come prepared to make a creative contribution, assisting with fluidity, to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing diverse organizations.
This is an in-country internship, with accommodation and select meals included. You can explore remote internships, if you are looking for an internship program that you can undertake from home.
Internships are provided within a range of sectors, so preferences are supported and accommodated as much as possible. However, preferences are subject to availability, so an open mind and degree of flexibility is required. The specific Business internship placement that you’re assigned will depend on review of your resume and your current level of studies and experience. Therefore, if you’re at a more introductory level, you should reasonably expect a more introductory internship. Likewise, if you’re interning for a shorter duration, you will have a different experience from someone who is interning for a longer duration.
In all cases, interns should expect that the first week of your experience will focus on settling in and gaining some introductory knowledge, as you will not “hit the ground running”. Rather, you should start with learning about the placement to gain an understanding of what you can build upon, develop, learn, and contribute. Ensure that you ask questions and provide feedback during the introductory period, so that your supervisor(s) understands how you’re progressing. This will help them to better understand important details, such as how quickly you learn, what you find challenging, what you find interesting, etc.
Examples include:
Local business
Sectors include tourism and hospitality, food production and processing (e.g. coffee production, chocolate production, but can be related to animal products - please advise in advance if you have preferences related to vegetarian and/or vegan sensitivities), and factories/manufacturing.
- Assist with market research and analysis.
- Support sales and marketing efforts, including social media strategy, content creation and promotional activities.
- Provide administrative support, such as data entry or filing.
- Participate in meetings and brainstorming sessions for business development initiatives.
Industry Development agencies (e.g. New Growth Industries and Farmers Associations)
- Conduct research and analysis on economic trends and policies.
- Assist with data collection and reporting for government initiatives.
- Support administrative tasks, such as drafting reports or preparing presentations.
- Participate in meetings and stakeholder consultations.
Entrepreneurship hubs
- Collaborate with startup founders to exchange ideas.
- Assist with business plan development and pitch preparation.
- Organize and facilitate workshops or networking events for entrepreneurs.
- Conduct market research and competitor analysis for startup ventures.
- Grant proposal writing.
- Research and development.
Agriculture and agribusiness
- Assist with crop planning and farm management activities.
- Support agricultural marketing and distribution efforts.
- Conduct research on sustainable agricultural practices.
- Assist with agribusiness development initiatives, such as value-added processing.
- Support project management and documentation efforts.
- Grant proposal writing.
Career Benefits
Business interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Business growth strategy and project development.
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Market research, data analysis and report creation.
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Research, analysis and development to implement improved customer service and outreach.
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Content creation and/or translations for digital media, newsletters, social media, etc.
Professional development opportunities:
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Contribute creatively to projects developed to support growth, impact and sustainability.
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Enhance your professional process skills and knowledge of best practice for accuracy and efficiency.
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Learn research techniques and deliver findings in presentations to local staff.
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Gain practical skills and boost your employability, with guidance from Intern Abroad HQ’s Experiential Learning Curriculum to support your learning and cultural intelligence.
Are you eligible for this internship?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
Not sure which program to join?
Belize photo gallery
Academic credit available for all internships
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing an internship abroad or remote internship program with Intern Abroad HQ.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
It’s free to apply for this internship. Once we have reviewed your suitability and accepted you onto this program, you’ll need to pay a deposit of US$499 to confirm your place. The remaining balance of your Program Fee (less your initial US$499 deposit payment) will be due no less than 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 4 weeks | $3,195 Equivalent to $114 /day |
| 5 weeks | $3,734 Equivalent to $106 /day |
| 6 weeks | $4,179 Equivalent to $99 /day |
| 8 weeks | $5,074 Equivalent to $90 /day |
| 10 weeks | $5,959 Equivalent to $85 /day |
| 12 weeks | $6,799 Equivalent to $80 /day |
- Airport pick-up
- Daily breakfast and dinner
- Accommodation
- 24/7 in-country support
- Program orientation
- Dedicated support before, during, and after your internship
- In-country guidance for social and tourist activities
- Sourcing and securing your internship placement
- Personalization of your internship plan
- Coaching from your supervisor
- Documented portfolio of your experiential learnings
- Academic credit facilitation
- International reference letter
- Certificate of Internship Completion
- Lunches
- All in-country transportation
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
- A deposit of $499 (approximately 499) is required to secure your internship
- Balance of your Program Fee is due 70 days before your internship start date. The Program Fee payment can also be completed in installments through our Zero-Fee Payment Plan. Learn more.
- All payments attract a 5% transaction fee to cover international banking fees and currency charges.
- Terms and Conditions apply.
Weekends and travel
Outside of internship placement hours, interns have free time to experience sight-seeing and tourism activities in and around San Ignacio. Explore the vibrant downtown area of San Ignacio, with its diverse range of restaurants and markets. Discover nearby Mayan ruins like Caracol andXunantunich. Take a day trip to the magnificent Tikal in Guatemala. Embark on a leisurely horseback ride adventure to the mysterious ATM cave. Enjoy canoeing or kayaking in the scenic rivers. Visit attractions such as the Belize Zoo, iguana farms, and butterfly farms. Experience snorkeling and scuba diving in the tropical beach paradises of Placencia and Ambergris Caye. The local team will be happy to make travel and tourism recommendations. However, while you’re in Belize, these are just a few examples of the attractions you won’t want to miss:
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Xunantunich: The second tallest structure in Belize, this Mayan ruin offers breathtaking 360-degree views.
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Caracol: A magnificent ancient Mayan site that was once a bustling metropolis. Swim in river pools, visit waterfalls and explore the Río Frío cave.
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Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave): This cave, ranked as the #1 most sacred cave by National Geographic, involves crossing rivers and navigating through ancient Mayan sacrificial areas by crawling, climbing, and swimming.
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Beaches: Day trips to coastal towns such as Hopkins, Placencia, or San Pedro to enjoy a Caribbean beach escape.
Arrival and Orientation
Internships in San Ignacio, Belize begin every Monday of the year. Exceptions to this schedule may be made to this when start dates are shifted to avoid holiday disruptions, or closed when the program has already reached capacity. Interns may choose to spend a minimum of 4 weeks, up to a maximum of 24 weeks. Airport pick-up, accommodation, and select meals are included in the Program Fee.
The accommodation is covered from the Saturday night before the Monday start date - interns are required to arrive no later than the Saturday before their Monday start date, as all orientations are held on Mondays.
The typical port of entry is the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE). Pick up from this airport is included in the cost of the internship Program Fee. Upon arrival, interns will be met, greeted, and transferred to the accommodation. (If you are planning to spend time independently in Belize prior to the internship and will not require an airport pick up, we can discuss alternative arrival logistics).
Orientation covers important details for your internship, including introductions, information about culture, customs, rules, expectations, safety, language lessons, cultural excursions, and more. Your specific internship placement orientation will follow the general orientation, as you’ll be shown how to travel to and from your internship and be introduced to the team you’ll be joining.
The last night of the accommodation is the Friday night of the final week, leaving interns free to depart on Saturday. Extra nights of accommodation can be arranged in advance, if requested, and are subject to availability. Return transportation to the airport is not included in the internship program fee but local coordinators can assist you to make arrangements, upon request.
Please note that all participants are advised not to book flights until they have first registered to confirm their internship placement.
Visa Requirements
Many nationalities do not need to acquire a visit in advance. Please check the Belize immigration website for details. Upon arrival, most travelers are permitted to stay in Belize for up to 30 days. To extend your stay, it will cost 200 Belize dollars for each additional 30 days (approximately US$100). Extensions can be arranged in-country at the Belize Immigration and Nationality Department. Please note that the requirements and costs for such visas and/or permits are outside the control of Intern Abroad HQ and are subject to change without notice.
Accommodation and WiFi
All interns in San Ignacio are hosted in homestay accommodation, located within the program headquarters. There are five rooms available, each with their own bathroom, fans and air conditioning. The rooms are spacious and can accommodate 3 to 6 interns at any given time. Bedding and furnishings are provided, as well as common areas such as courtyard kitchen and dining area. Standard amenities include whiteware (i.e. washing machine, stovetop, fridge, microwave) and clean linen (i.e. bed sheets, pillows, towels).
Homestay accommodation provides international interns with an extra layer of local support, while also providing a valuable opportunity to become immersed in the Belize way of life, meeting new people and engaging in the lifestyle. There are on-site coordinators available to provide assistance as and when needed.
Basic WiFi is available at the accommodation and internship participants may optionally purchase a local SIM card with data (you will need to ensure that your phone is unlocked for international use). The local team can assist you with this at the orientation, if need be. Please note that the accommodation WiFi is for study and communication purposes but may not be used excessively for streaming/gaming, as this will exceed the limit. Guests will be encouraged to purchase your own data for heavy intertest usage. Laundry can be done at local Laundromats at an additional fee.
For those seeking alternative arrangements for customized group bookings, additional/unique arrangements can be made (at an additional cost) upon request (subject to availability). Please enquire for more information.
Please note that the accommodation pictured in the photo gallery of this webpage is provided as an example. The exact room that you’re assigned may differ from the photos.
Meals
Internships in Belize include two meals per day, Monday through Friday, provided by the homestay (daily breakfast and dinner). During the week, interns need to budget independently for their own lunches, and on weekends, breakfast, lunch and dinner.
In Belize, the most common options for breakfast are stew, refried beans, and flour/corn tortillas (with habanero onion sauce!). You will find that meals are fresh, varied and balanced, and you can expect tortillas, beans, polenta, stir-fried vegetables, coconut curry, fresh seafood, eggs and rice.
It is important to be aware that vegetarian and other dietary requirements must be communicated in advance. There is an additional weekly surcharge if a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian or vegan diet is requested. This is in order to provide specialty grocery items, which are often more expensive (e.g. soy milk, gluten free bread/pasta, protein supplements, etc). The extra cost is US$45 per week, which will be charged in advance. If there are special snacks you like to have, please budget for them and take care of your own preferences independently.
Interns in Belize may find US$250-300 per week to be sufficient for lunches, weekend meals, extra snacks and treats, and in-country transportation, but this budget can vary depending on personal spending habits. Extra budget for weekend activities should be researched and planned for in advance.
Essential country information
| Capital | Belmopan |
| Population | 405,272 thousand |
| Languages | English |
| Currency | Belize Dollar |
| Time zone | UTC−06:00 |
Weather and climate:
Belize has a tropical climate with distinctive wet and dry seasons. The climate varies by region, as temperatures change according to elevation and proximity to the coast. (Coastal and elevated areas are typically cooler).
The hottest months of the year in San Ignacio, Belize, are usually March through June (May is often the hottest month). This period is hot, humid and mostly cloudy. During this period, the average daily high is above 91°F (33°C). The temperatures are cooler from November through February. In January, which is usually the cooler month, the temperature typically ranges from 66°F - 82°F (or from 19°C - 28°C).
The chance of rainy days in San Ignacio varies throughout the year. The months that typically see more rain are late May through late November. September is often the rainiest month. December through April can be a drier time of year.
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