Hoya del Pino

The area occupies a clearing inside the monteverde forest that covers the northern side of the El Hierro summit ridge, with tables and barbecue stands spread out under the trees. The atmosphere is damp and shaded, and birdsong accompanies most of the day. The site sits at a little over a thousand metres, and less than a kilometre to the south rises Malpaso, the roof of the island at 1,501 metres, almost five hundred metres higher. The whole area belongs to an island designated both a Biosphere Reserve and a Geopark.

Access is by the HI-1 summit road from La Frontera, with parking on the site itself and on the nearby bends. No prior permit is needed to use the facilities, although camping is not allowed. Mist can close in within minutes, so it is wise to stay on the marked tracks and paths whenever visibility drops. The same road leads to La Llanía and Hoya del Morcillo, two of the most walked routes on the summit ridge.