Prices From: £2,399pp

FROG & FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOLIDAYS IN COSTA RICA

2008 may be the Year of the Rat according to the Chinese calendar, but in wildlife terms it is definitely the Year of the Frog. European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) are dedicating the next 12-months to saving frogs and other amphibians, threatened by increased incidence of a deadly species of chytrid fungus, thought to be promoted by climate change. Up to half of the world's 6,000 amphibian species could be wiped out and it is estimated that 165 species may have already become extinct. Patron of Year of the Frog, Sir David Attenborough, has issued a plea for support, stating that habitats are being destroyed at such a pace that many species may disappear before they are even discovered. Costa Rica is home to around 175 amphibians, including 35 species of Elutherodoctylus frog, 26 species of Hyla frog and 13 species of glassfrog. Supporting EAZA in raising awareness to help protect endangered amphibian species globally, Trips Worldwide offer a 16-day Costa Rican frog and family-friendly holiday, donating £10 from each booking towards Year of the Frog, with tailored departures from London throughout 2008.

The itinerary commences from San José and includes INBioparque, extensive botanical gardens on the outskirts of the capital, representing four of Costa Rica’s diverse ecosystems. Here, a guided tour visits butterfly, frog and insect enclosures, offering a great insight into the country’s huge amphibian population. Next, transfer to the Turrialba Valley, an adventurer’s paradise with white-water rafting, mountain biking and horse riding available. From here, visit Guayabo National Monument, considered to be the country’s most important archaeological site. Tortuguero National Park is next, one of the world's most important nesting sites for endangered Green Sea Turtles and home to 50 kinds of fish, countless birds and 160 different mammal species. The tropical lowland area of Sarapiquí makes a perfect stop-off point for the journey from Tortuguera to Arenal and is one of the richest regions in the country for birding. Guests are accommodated at a family-run lodge in Sarapiqui with its own on-site Dart Frog re-introduction programme and butterfly garden. Further highlights of the tour include Bosque de Paz, a privately-owned biological preserve, with a spectacularly rich ecosystem due to its location on the Continental Divide, connecting the Poás Voclano National Park with the Juan Castro Blanco National Park. The Poás Volcano has one of the largest craters in the world at 1.5km wide. The viewing terrace provides a bird’s-eye-view into the bowels of the volcano with its green, sulphurous pool. Wildlife in this area includes the Quetzal, wildcats and the endemic Green-eyed Poás Squirrel. The holiday concludes back in San José.

The holiday costs from £2,399 per adult £1,199 per child (under 11 years) including scheduled flights (Iberia Airlines), transfers, hotel and lodge accommodation, some meals and all excursions as per itinerary accompanied by an English speaking local guide.