At the end of September 1813, most of Belgrano's army arrived to the plain of Vilcapugio, a plateau surrounded by high mountains several miles north of Potosí. The royalist troops were encamped further west at Condo-Condo under the orders of Pazuela and Major Saturnino Castro, which allowed them to take by surprise and utterly defeat Cárdenas' native troops at Ancacato, 23 km north of Belgrano's headquarters.
By late September 1813, most of Belgrano's army had assembled on the Vilcapugio plateau, a highland region surrounded by mountains several miles north of Potosí. The royalist forces were positioned further west at Condo-Condo under the direction of Pazuela and Major Saturnino Castro, which facilitated their ability to launch a surprise attack and annihilate Cárdenas' native troops at Ancacato, 23 km northwest of Belgrano's headquarters.