Is it legal to camp on or near the beaches in Costa Rica? Where are the best places to go in terms of safety and beauty? Is it better to bring your own gear or rent? Are there good places for snorkeling?

Thank you for any advice you can offer!

I think that all or most Costa Rican beaches are resticted as far as ownership/building etc. goes. We saw several people camping on beaches last year.

If you can get down to Bahia Drake there are some truly lovely areas there, likewise on the south eastern Caribbean coast - Cajuita or Puerto Viejo. The contributor called Rodrigo seems to be attempting to portray CR as a dangerous place, and doesn't seem interested in replying to my requests for an explanation.

Clearly many places in the world CAN be dangerous and a lone female traveller is perhaps more at risk than most, but CR is still probably safer than many other countries. I guess if you choose your location carefully and stay within site of habitation you will be no more at risk than anywhere else.