We’ll be waiting for you every day at Calle San Francisco 204. Head to office 205 on the second floor, where you’ll easily recognise your guide by the red vest with the words Chacu Travel.

You’ll find all the details of this free tour under the Details tab.

With its finely decorated sillar façade, its Baroque Mestizo style and tall walls crowned with gargoyles shaped like puma heads, this colonial mansion, dating back to 1736, is one of the gems of Arequipa’s Historic Centre.

Its original owner was General Domingo Carlos Tristán del Pozo. In 1974, the so-called “House of Art” was acquired by BBVA Continental, which has since taken care of the building’s preservation.

Declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation in 1958, its colonial-style rooms now showcase the works of renowned Arequipa artists such as Carlos Baca Flor and Jorge Vinatea Reinoso. Entry to the mansion is free of charge.

In a colonial house built from volcanic ashlar in the 18th century, more than 30 varieties of bread are baked, blending tradition with modernity. Their recipes combine artisanal techniques with innovative methods.

La Canasta is the city’s very first boutique bakery, bringing together the best of past and present. Here, the typical pan de tres puntas, crispy baguettes, and delicious pastries all have a unique touch thanks to the use of natural organic ingredients.

But that’s not all. La Canasta’s charm also lies in its architecture and history. Within the walls of this colonial home, Don Eduardo López de Romaña y Alvizuri was born – a distinguished arequipeño who served as President of Peru between 1899 and 1903.

Generous and deeply connected to his homeland, Nobel Prize in Literature 2010, Mario Vargas Llosa (1936–2025), donated the books and magazines from his valuable personal library to the people of Arequipa, the “White City”.

His gesture inspired other local writers, such as Teodoro Núñez Ureta, Víctor Javier de Belaunde, Álvaro Rojas Samanez, Eloy Linares Málaga, Víctor Raúl Sacca Abusabal, and Oswaldo Reynoso, who also gave away their books.

This became the foundation of the library you’ll visit on the free tour. Today, this bastion of literature and thought is housed in an old colonial mansion, which until 2011 was the headquarters of the Regional Government of Arequipa.

The collection includes first editions of The Leaders, The Time of the Hero, The Green House, and The Cubs, works written and published by Vargas Llosa between 1957 and 1967. These are now recognised as part of Peru’s National Cultural Heritage.

From library halls to the “cells” of a penitentiary… or rather, to the classrooms of a girls’ school. No, not anymore. That was long ago, in another time. Today, the colonial estate of El Fierro has become a lively handicraft centre.

Back in 1804, Father José Antonio del Fierro promoted the construction of this neoclassical-style estate. Declared a Cultural Heritage of the Nation, it once housed the Las Educandas school and later served as the city’s public penitentiary.

At El Fierro — located in San Francisco Square — you’ll find the very best of Arequipa’s craftsmanship. Textiles, embroidery, ashlar stonework, leather goods and a wide variety of jewellery all bring to life an estate steeped in history and tradition.

The roots of colonial Arequipa can be felt in this vibrant historic neighbourhood. Quiet and welcoming, it will dazzle you with its ashlar stone houses, cobbled streets and windows adorned with colourful flowerpots.

Considered the first neighbourhood with Spanish influence in southern Peru, San Lázaro is a place of heritage, culture and tradition. Its streets, its square and its 16th-century church transport you back to the origins of the “White City”, founded on 15 August 1540.

Let yourself be charmed by this lovely corner of the city, best enjoyed at a slow pace. And if, due to time constraints, your guide happens to skip this stop on the free tour, make sure to come back on your own. Don’t hesitate — you’ll love it.

This is one of the most charming and representative architectural complexes in Arequipa’s Historic Centre. Its main highlight is the Church of San Francisco, a blend of baroque and neoclassical styles, whose construction began in 1552.

The square you see today — remodelled in 2005 by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation — was once a cemetery until 1875. At that time, plans were made to build a market here, but the idea never materialised.

San Francisco is a calm and easily accessible spot. Thanks to its strategic location, it’s well worth visiting more than once. And while you’re nearby, take the chance to explore the handicraft centre at Fundo El Fierro.

On 15 August 1540, Garcí Manuel de Carbajal founded the Villa de la Asunción de Nuestra Señora del Valle Hermoso de Arequipa right here, in the very spot you’re visiting today — the original name of the city you’re exploring on our free tour.

Since its foundation, the square has been the beating heart of the city. As you walk around, take a moment to admire the 18th-century bronze fountain, the neoclassical Basilica Cathedral, and the majestic volcanoes rising on the horizon.

Don’t forget the arcades that surround the square. Before you continue your urban adventure, ask your guide about the character perched at the top of the fountain — the answer may surprise you. For now, we’ll give you a hint: everyone calls him Tuturutu.

Almost as old as the city itself, construction began in 1577 to connect the banks of the Chili River. The work, entrusted to architect Juan de Aldana, boosted the growth and integration of the colonial town.

Known originally as the Royal or Old Bridge, it was inaugurated in 1608 and has remained one of Arequipa’s main thoroughfares ever since. Today, it bears the name of Francisco Bolognesi, one of Peru’s national heroes from the War of the Pacific.

Wrapped in history and legend, locals once said that a mermaid haunted the area, frightening drivers and passers-by, causing accidents with her appearances. Beyond the tales, the bridge is a perfect spot to admire the flow of the Chili River.

Your final glimpse of Arequipa’s Historic Centre will be from the Waya viewpoint. It’s not a mountain or a natural lookout, but rather the upper floor of one of the buildings flanking the Plaza de Armas of the “White City”.

Designed with travellers like you in mind, Waya is the perfect spot to enjoy a beer, order some nibbles, and chat with fellow visitors while you take in the old town and snap photos of Misti, the volcano that watches over and protects the city.

It’s an extraordinary way to end your urban journey, during which you’ve discovered the main highlights of a city that, thanks to its rich colonial and republican architectural heritage, has been declared a World Cultural Heritage Site.

The free tour ends just a short walk from the Plaza de Armas — though many travellers choose to stay at the Waya viewpoint. And you? What would you do?