Área Recreativa El Pilar

Refugio del Pilar sits in a wide clearing on the ridge that has served as a crossroads on La Palma's southern spine for centuries. Because it lies roughly halfway along the mountain ridge dividing the island, it is the natural starting point for the Ruta de los Volcanes, a route graded high difficulty that covers 17.5 kilometres with 1,207 metres of cumulative ascent. The visitor centre for the Cumbre Vieja Natural Park stands on the same site.

The facilities suit both the walker who stops only to lace up and the family that comes to spend the whole day up on the ridge: a camping zone, playground, drinking water, showers, toilets, cooking hearths, barbecue shelters and benches, plus a self-guided mycological trail during mushroom season. Use of some of the kitchens and of the camping zone is semi-restricted and needs prior authorisation from the island's environment department. Access is by car along the LP-301 road linking San Isidro (Breña Alta) with El Paso, or from the west via the LP-3, turning off onto the LP-301.