[2] The events prior to the combat began at two in the morning on March 26, 1933, when the ships Cartagena' and Santa Marta of the Putumayo Detachment of the Colombian Navy landed two contingents of the Colombian Army on both flanks of Güepí in order to surround the fort where the Peruvian Army was located.

Around 9 in the morning of the same day the Colombian Air Force began the attack, supported by artillery fire from nearby Chavaco Island and from the gunboats Cartagena and Santa Marta, such that by 9:50 the Colombian company that was advancing from the east occupied the Bolognesi entrenchment, when the Peruvian lieutenant Sillau abandoned it before his imminent fall.

[4][2] While this was happening on land, in the water, the ship Cartagena advanced towards the mouth of the Güepí River, beating the fort that defended that position with its cannons.

Towards 12 o'clock the Cartagena launched itself towards the riverbank to disembark a wave of soldiers in order to take the main nest of resistance; Downstream, the Santa Marta fulfilled a similar task.

[2] The Peruvian troops resisted throughout the assault, slowly giving up ground, however, seeing themselves completely outflanked and only the trail to the town of Cabo Pantoja as a single supply route, they withdrew in a disorderly manner, abandoning wounded, weapons, ammunition and food;[2] Simultaneously the Peruvian aircraft withdrew towards Pantoja.