According to the Bolivian IGM map 1:50,000 'Nevados Payachata Hoja 5739-I' it is situated on Bolivian terrain in the La Paz Department, Pacajes Province, Charaña Municipality, at the border with Chile.

The nearest peak to the east is Jaruma (Aymara for "bitter water").

One of three different rivers of this area called Kunturiri (Condoriri) originates north of the mountain.

It flows in a bow along the northern slopes of Laram Q'awa towards Chile.

[1][2] Phaq'u Q'awa derives from Aymara language terms phaq'u, paqu, or p'aqu meaning the color light brown, reddish, fair-haired, or dark chestnut, and q'awa meaning little river, ditch, crevice, fissure, or gap in the earth,[3][4] the name thus meaning "brown brook" or "brown ravine".