We analyze the properties of harmonic quasiconformal mappings and by comparing some suitably chosen conformal metrics defined in the unit disc we obtain some geometrically motivated inequalities for those mappings (see for instance [15, 17, 20]). In particular, we obtain the answers to many questions concerning these classes of functions which are related to the determination of different properties that are of essential importance for validity of the results such as those that generalize famous inequalities of the Schwarz--Pick type. The approach used is geometrical in nature, via analyzing the properties of the Gaussian curvature of the conformal metrics we are dealing with. As a consequence of this approach we give a note to the co-Lipschicity of harmonic quasiconformal self mappings of the unit disc at the origin.