hdavig

so how safe is it to leave your stuff and go swimming??

sassy_cat

You'll probably be sharing the place with a few other tourists or a tour group depending on the time you go so it would make sense to keep an eye on your valuables.

I don't think you need worry unduly about your clothes but obviously don't leave valuables like ipods in plain sight and to be on the safe side carry credit cards, cash and car keys with you in a waterproof container.

The area is surrounded by rocks and we left our clothing and a camera where we could see them from the water and others did the same. The water was cold (and refreshing) so we weren't in long!

akila

There are plenty of spots right near the water and you can easily leave your stuff nearby and watch it as you go in. If you're really concerned about safety in the water, you might want to check out the Denko PakPak. It's one of our favorite items when we travel to the beach because we stuff a few dollars or other items into it and put it around our neck and it's perfectly safe in the water. It works really well!

hdavig

thanks for the tip. you know us paranoid new yorkers.

ejcrowe

I have a question and I don't ask it with the intention of fearmongering. Is it safe to swim in the waterfalls in El Yunque? I've swum in a few waterfall pools elsewhere in the Caribbean not thinking much of it, but when I was in the Big Island of Hawai'i last summer at every waterfall we went to there were warning signs about bacteria in the water and being unsafe to swim in.
Maybe it's because of the upstream livestock in Hawai'i and maybe it's just not an issue elsewhere, but I was rather startled to read those signs...

eileen

One other comment -- please, please, please make the hike in sneakers. The trail is very muddy, rocky, slippery (after all, it's a rainforest!) I was amazed at the people trying to make the hike in flip flops or yes, even heels! A sprained ankle can really put a damper on a vacation.