Smith Barcadere

Smith Barcadere, usually called Smith Cove, is a small public beach in a notch of the ironshore a short way south of George Town, with pale sand between rock ledges, water clear enough to snorkel straight off the shore, and casuarinas for shade. It is a public park with toilets and picnic tables, and it is where Caymanians go rather than where cruise passengers are taken. The rock ledges on either side are used for jumping. Facing west, it gets the sunset directly, and on a Friday evening the car park fills with people who have come for exactly that.

What's there

• The cove - sand between ironshore ledges with clear water.
• Shore snorkelling - fish and coral heads a few metres out.
• The rock ledges - used for jumping on either side.
• The sunset - facing west, and the reason for the evening crowd.

When to go

November to May is the driest. Weekday mornings are quiet; weekends and Friday evenings bring Caymanian families. Cruise days push some visitors down here from George Town but it stays local in character.

What to expect

It is small and fills at weekends, with limited parking. The ironshore is sharp and cuts feet; water shoes help. There is no lifeguard and the ledges people jump from have shallow water in places. Swell from the southwest, which is rare but happens, makes it unsafe.

Nearby

George Town is five minutes north; Seven Mile Beach is beyond.