Posted 31 Mar 2009

Spotting whales swim and play in the crystal waters of popular gap year destination Costa Rica is an "amazing experience", according to TV and radio presenter Johnny Vaughan.

The British TV personality, who shot to fame while hosting quirky 90s morning show the Big Breakfast, told the Telegraph about his most memorable experiences while abroad.

He said that his next holiday would be a trip to Mexico, "because I gather you can see whales then, as they migrate," he explains.

"I’ve seen one only once, off Costa Rica. I just caught a look at the back of it and it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen," he told the newspaper.

Costa Rica, which could provide the ideal stop-off for gap year students or those volunteering abroad, boasts a diverse range of wildlife and landscapes.

If, like Vaughan, gap year travellers are hoping for a wildlife-focused trip abroad, a project such as i-to-i’s turtle conservation programme in Costa Rica could be the ideal solution.

Category: South America