Winter Break 2025: Landscape Architecture - Intern abroad in Belize
Looking for a warm-weather getaway this Winter Break? This is your chance to join an immersive educational experience in Belize. Co-led by two visionary architects, this intern abroad program offers a structured itinerary for the design and construction of eco-conscious infrastructure. Using modernized gabion architecture, learn about ancient methods, as they’re adapted for sustainable, resilient structures. 2025 Winter Break spots are strictly limited! Don’t miss a one-of-a-kind learning experience that bridges tradition and contemporary practice.
What to expect from your Winter Break 2025: Landscape Architecture internship:
- Enjoy a full-on immersive design studio experience, to collaborate side-by-side with professionals.
- Apply sustainable design strategies in real-world conditions.
- Explore gabion systems, site responsiveness, and material innovation.
- Enjoy a structured program itinerary in Belize, with cultural tours and activities.
Your internship abroad host organization:
- Architect studio
Internship details
This customized Winter Break internship package will transform your perspective on architecture and design, offering unique cultural experience and portfolio development. With a detailed day-by-day program schedule, onsite design-build sessions with architects and construction teams, and immersive weekend activities, you’ll bring classroom learning to life!
The 2025 Landscape Architecture Studio internship package is running in Belize, from Saturday December 13th through Friday January 2nd, 2026. Interns join a passionate team, to design and construct an eco-conscious hacienda-style building, using modernized gabion architecture - an ancient method adapted for sustainable, resilient structures for the tropical climate.
This transformative project will be co-led by two visionary architects, with a focus on contextual and sustainable design, experimental material strategies, and environmental sensitivity. Together, they’ll guide interns through a unique learning experience.
Program Itinerary Snapshot
Saturday, Dec. 13: Arrival in Belize
Sunday, Dec. 14: Orientation & Welcome Dinner
Weekday activities: Onsite design-build sessions with architects and construction teams
Saturday, Dec. 20: Free time
Sunday, Dec. 21: ATM Cave Tour (Actun Tunichil Muknal – one of Belize’s most sacred and stunning cave systems)
Weekday activities: Onsite design-build sessions with architects and construction teams
Thursday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day, picnic excursion in the Mountain Pine Ridge
Friday, Dec 26 and Saturday, Dec 27: Free time
Sunday, Dec. 28: Beach Day in Hopkins, a beautiful Garifuna coastal village
Weekday activities: Onsite design-build sessions with architects and construction teams
Wednesday, Dec. 3: Caribbean New Year’s Eve Party at Volstrius Restaurant. Enjoy a night of music, dancing, and tropical New Year’s celebration.
Thursday, Jan. 1: Optional rest day
Friday, Jan. 2: Final reflections, closing circle, and departures
Hands-On Construction Activities:
- Participants will be actively involved in multiple stages of the design-build process, engaging in activities that bridge conceptual design with practical application. These include:
- Material Preparation & Handling: Learn how to prepare bamboo, stone, and other locally sourced materials for gabion systems and structural elements.
- Structural Assembly: Participate in the hands-on construction of walls, frames, and other building components using sustainable techniques.
- Bamboo Joinery & Detailing: Practice cutting, shaping, and assembling bamboo elements for structural and decorative use.
- Gabion Basket Assembly & Filling: Assist in building gabion cages, packing them with stone, and ensuring structural integrity.
- Natural Finishes Application: Apply lime wash, clay plasters, and other eco-friendly finishes to interior and exterior surfaces.
On-Site Problem Solving: Collaborate with the team to adapt designs to site conditions and material availability.
Winter Break Program Inclusions
The all-inclusive Winter Break program fee covers everything listed in the itinerary above, including all group excursions (ATM Cave Tour, Mountain Pine Ridge Christmas Picnic, Hopkins Beach Day, New Year’s Eve celebration). Also included:
- Airport pick-up and return transfer on arrival/departure days.
- Accommodation from Saturday, December 14th 2025 through Friday, January 2nd, 2026.
- All meals during program days. (Sunday meals not included as Sundays are designated as non-program rest days).
- All building materials and tools for the project.
- Local transportation for all scheduled program activities.
- Professional mentorship and networking opportunities.
Optional personal excursions during free time are not included.
Spots are strictly limited, so don’t miss out!
Typical Schedule
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Typical studio and site days run from 9am through 4pm, with a one-hour lunch break. Some days may include optional evening presentations, cultural activities, or group discussions.
What are the career benefits of interning abroad as a Winter Break 2025: Landscape Architecture Intern?
Winter Break 2025: Landscape Architecture interns learn from a qualified and experienced supervisor, and can be involved in:
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Assist in developing material lists and finishing mood boards.
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Contribute to aesthetic design decisions.
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Engage in model-making workshops featuring bamboo and gabion structures.
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Help source and prepare local building materials.
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Join group excursions to historically significant architectural and cultural sites.
Professional development opportunities:
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Attend panel discussions and presentations on the basics of sustainable construction methods, covering bamboo basics, gabion construction, material innovation, local architecture, and the application of natural finishes in interiors.
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Document the design and construction process for portfolio use.
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Participate in hands-on construction activities.
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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
Get course credit from your college or university while completing your internship abroad or a remote internship program. It's a great way to meet your academic requirements and gain valuable experience at the same time.
Learn about course creditProgram fees
Applying for our Winter Break 2025: Landscape Architecture Internship is completely free! The support package covers the assistance we provide in finding your internship and arranging your living accommodations in your host country, ensuring you thrive during your program.
Please note that a deposit of US$499 is required to confirm your place. The remaining balance (minus your initial US$499 deposit) is due at least 60 days before your internship start date.
Duration |
Program Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| 3 weeks | $3,499 Equivalent to $166 /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
- Transfer back to the airport at the end of your internship program
- Visa (if required), flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check
- Personal spending money for snacks, drinks, public transport, laundry, and leisure activities during your free time.
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. 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.
There are five rooms available at the homestay accommodation, each with their own bathroom, fans, and air conditioning. The rooms are spacious and can accommodate 3 to 6 interns at any given time (guest numbers can change throughout the year, according to the program seasonality, and individual variations of stay). 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).
Bedrooms, as well as each of their bathrooms, are allocated as single-sex. However, guests must be prepared to share common living spaces with mixed genders, such as shared kitchen, living, dining, and patio areas.
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 internet usage. Laundry can be done at local Laundromats at an additional fee.
Requests for any exceptional accommodation arrangements (subject to availability) must be communicated in advance of the internship start date. 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.
