It's Quepos's location on the edge of the rolling Pacific Ocean that ensures the steady stream of visitors who come its way. They come by their droves for the wondrous reaches of the pint-sized Manuel Antonio National Park, which hugs its golden bays and crashes into the pearly-blue waters of the sea just to the south of town. With all the capuchin monkeys and three-toed sloths that hide in the old-growth rainforest there, it's hardly a surprise that the nearest town is now packed with ecotourist hostels, homestays, earthy little Tico restaurants and Quepos tour guides eager to lead hiking expeditions out between the misty canopies and waxy orchid blooms. Of course, there are other things to see and do too, like the rugged outlines of the Tarrazu Highlands to the west, or the occasional empty surf swell that's known only to the locals. And then there are the evening grills and sizzling cookhouses, frying up homey Central American plates and Carib skewers with plenty of frothy beers in the evening. Nice.