Muela del Diablo, Mountain summit near La Paz, Bolivia

Muela del Diablo is a mountain peak near La Paz at approximately 3,770 meters elevation, marked by distinctive rock formations visible from many points across the valley below. The rocks create distinctive shapes that change appearance depending on where you view them from.

Muela del Diablo is a volcanic neck, the solidified core of an extinct volcano whose outer layers eroded away. The rock rises 150 meters above the surrounding land at 3,825 meters, in the Chiaraque community of La Paz municipality. Local accounts explain its black, molar-like form through a legend of a battle between angels and demons, in which a demon spat out a tooth that fell where the ridge now stands.

Locals also call the rock Auki Kollo, and the Spanish name comes from its shape seen from the north-west of La Paz, like a human molar. Legends tell of a battle between angels and demons in which a demon spat out a tooth that fell where the hill now stands; some say people who visit are enchanted, or that duendes live there.

The best time to climb is from May through November, when there is less rain and better visibility for the hike. Visitors should prepare for the altitude and bring proper gear and plenty of water.

The rock is a volcanic neck: the solidified core of an extinct volcano whose outer layers eroded away, leaving a black mass about 150 metres tall. Locals also call it Auki Kollo, and it can be seen from both La Paz and El Alto.