Looking down on the road and the valley beyond. Instead of following the road (which winds a lot), it is also possible to follow the trail alongside the reddish rocks on the left side of the valley, which is the original Inca Road (Qhapaq Ñan) that passes up from Palcamayo. From here you can see the white road snaking across the valley and passing the three lakes, which is also where the Inca Road passes (although more directly, as it was designed for runners, not cars). Apparently this is a better route to reach the head of the Cauquirán valley, but as I didn't know that, instead I followed the join between the two types of rock, which at least guaranteed that I wouldn't get lost.