In the summer of 2023, Matt and I celebrated our 15-year wedding anniversary and decided to go somewhere tropical! My parents are experts at Sandals Resorts (they have now been 10 times) so we took their advice and joined them on a 7-day trip to Sandals Regency La Toc in Saint Lucia. While we were there, we ventured off of the resort for two excursions, in this blog, I will give you all the details about the Horseback Beach Ride operated by Island Routes.

Booking Your Excursion

You can book this excursion several different ways:

• Anytime during your stay at either of the three Sandals resorts at the Island Routes desk.

• On the Sandals App.

• On the Sandals website.

• On the Island Routes website.

I am a big planner, so I wanted to make sure I got the day and time I wanted based on the other things my family had planned throughout the week, so I booked about two months in advance on the Sandals app. It was super easy, I got confirmation right away, and when I got to the resort, I just checked in at the Island Routes desk and they gave me my paperwork telling me more about the excursion, what to bring, and where to meet for pickup.

Excursion Details

Here are some of the key things to know about this excursion before you book:

• The cost starts at around $83 per person.

• It takes about 3.5-4 hours including transfer time.

• Availability to book: check the website as this changes constantly. We went on a Monday afternoon.

Tour Highlights

• Horseback ride to Cas En Bas Beach in northern St. Lucia.

• Ride with your horse into the warm Caribbean waters.

• Refreshments are available for purchase at a nearby bar.

What to Bring

• Towels (you put your towel over your saddle before you mount your horse). If you don’t have a towel, they let you “rent” one for a dollar.

• Sunscreen.

• Water.

• Sunglasses/hat.

• Camera (I just used my phone).

• Bug Repellent.

• Cash (for tips and in case you want to buy souvenirs or get a drink at the bar on the beach).

• Water shoes or closed toed shoes.

• Swimsuit or something you don’t mind getting wet.

• Change of clothes. (No one changed clothes in our group but there was a restroom available at the stables.)

• Dramamine if you are prone to motion sickness (mainly for your car ride).

Not Recommended For

• Physically Challenged (it is unfortunately not accessible).

• Persons with back problems.

• Maximum weight 300 pounds.

Flexible Cancellation

• 24 hours or less: no refund

• 48 hours or less: 50% cancellation fee

• 96 hours or less: 25% cancellation fee

• 96+ hours: full refund

Let the Adventure Begin

We were scheduled to meet the driver for pickup at 1:00 at the Ampitheater at La Toc on the day of our excursion. When I originally checked in at the resort and confirmed our excursion, I was given a packet to bring along the day of. The packet reviewed what to expect and bring, as well as what time to meet and where. It also included safety and liability disclosures and everyone attending was required to sign it. This document acted as our boarding pass and was what we provided to the driver as proof of our reservation.

The driver arrived right on time and came in to collect us and our paperwork. On our way to the stables, we stopped by the Halcyon Resort to pick up one additional couple, and there was one additional couple that came with us from our resort, making the total party 8 people for the excursion.

We drove from our resort to the Halcyon and to the International Pony Club via mostly highways and we passed by a large marina and went up and down some mountains and experienced some winding roads. If you are prone to motion sickness, really any car travel in Saint Lucia may be rough for you. After about a 30-minute ride we finally pulled over to the International Pony Club.

International Pony Club

We were immediately greeted by the sound of roosters crowing and could see roosters and chickens scurrying around the property as our driver escorted us onto the porch of the building (that looked like a house) to get started. Two associates began to introduce themselves and welcome us to the International Pony Club.

They began passing out hair nets that we were required to wear (sexy), and then started fitting us for our helmets. They also checked to ensure we each had a towel and gave us an opportunity to use the restroom if needed. They had towels for rent and water for purchase if needed. They gave us a brief overview of what to expect on our ride and offered to store any belongings we did not want to take or get wet.

We were escorted to the stables and lined up in two lines based on our riding experience so that the guides could pair us with the most appropriate horses. The horses were already saddled and ready to go, so all we had to do was walk up a large stepping stool and (with the assistance of the guides) mount the horses. We then trotted over to a fenced area and waited for everyone to get ready before we set off toward the beach. The guides gave us some basic instructions like how to speed up and slow down and how to steer and we were on our way!

The Ride

As soon as we left the stables, we began an uphill stroll to a main road. We had a guide at the front and a guide towards the end and both of them accompanied the group on foot. We also had a sweet pup escort. She lived at the stables and made the trek to the beach twice a day with each group. She was so precious and super friendly.

We kept a very leisurely pace that ensured everyone (even the first timers) was comfortable, and every time we came upon a hill (which was often) the guides reminded us to lean forward or backwards. We stayed on the street of what seemed like a residential area for about fifteen to twenty minutes before coming upon a small path in what looked like a forest. We passed many houses and saw some locals tending to their yards, outside with their pets, or just lounging about enjoying their day. We were on the actual road, so there were cars going by us, but the horses were not bothered at all, and neither were the drivers.

Once we got to the trees, the path became narrower, and we were all relieved for a little shade. The guides did a great job of ensuring that everyone stayed together and at the same pace, and they gave good direction if anyone needed to make any adjustments. We occasionally switched positions and who was the “leader” but always stayed in a single file line. After just a few minutes in the trees, we started to notice the ground becoming sandy, and finally saw a clearing ahead and could hear the faint crashing of the waves. We had made it to the beach!

The Beach

Cas En Bas Beach is a small and secluded beach, mostly utilized by windsurfers. There was a lot of seaweed on the beach, but there was someone with a bulldozer-like machine actively moving it while we were there. The sand was white, and the water was clear and as you can see, it was not crowded at all. We rode for about 5 minutes before coming to a stop at Marjorie's bar and restaurant. The guides helped everyone dismount and tied the horses to the nearby trees. They gave us all five minutes to shop at the little huts that were set up or to go in and grab a drink at the bar. Meanwhile, they took two of the horses and began to remove their saddles for the photos in the water.

We took a look at the souvenirs for purchase (hand carved frames, magnets, as well as shot glasses, and beaded jewelry), and some of the other participants went to the bar for a drink. Marjorie’s is known for the spiced rum, warm fish cakes, and the unique artifact outside: a mysterious spent rocket booster that washed ashore after it was jettisoned by a spacecraft in flight. There was a gentleman who approached each of us, eager to take us over to show us the rocket.

Swimming with the Horses

This was what we had all been waiting for!! The guides took each couple out at a time for some swimming with the horses. One guide went out to guide the horses, and the other stayed on shore to take photos for you. You spent about 5 minutes walking around in the water and went about as deep as mid-thigh before coming back out of the water for a fantastic photo of you and your loved one holding hands on top of your horses.

Once every couple took their turn, the two horses got their saddles back on, the guides helped us all re-mount, and we headed back down the same path we came (down the beach, through the trees, and then on the streets) towards the stables. Once we arrived at the stables, we were once again assisted off our horses, the guides helped us to remember our towels and any other belongings, and we made sure to thank them for the experience and to tip each of them for all that they did to make our afternoon so wonderful. Our van was waiting for us, so we hopped in to take the journey back to our resorts.

The guides were kind and easy going, even the most inexperienced riders felt safe and in control, the beach was absolutely beautiful, and the photos and memories will last a lifetime. If you find yourself in Saint Lucia with an afternoon available, I definitely recommend Horseback Riding on the beach through Island Routes. Have a great time!