The Arco Deustua is a triumphal arch at the entrance to the historic centre of Puno, built in 1847 to honour the Peruvian soldiers who fell at the battles of Junín and Ayacucho — the decisive engagements of South American independence fought in 1824. The arch frames the pedestrian street that leads up from the lake towards the Plaza de Armas and is one of the most photographed landmarks in the city.
The street behind the arch, Jirón Lima, is the main pedestrian artery of the centre and is lined with restaurants, shops, and tour agencies. In the late afternoon, locals promenade here and vendors set up stalls selling roasted chestnuts and chicha morada. The arch itself is modest by the standards of similar monuments in Latin America, but the framing and the view through it towards the lake are genuinely picturesque.