The local beaches are the main attraction in the area, even though it is visited by the Humboldt Current that brings cold water from Antarctica.

In the summer months, from December to April, the population more than doubles as people from the largest city in the region (Arequipa) use Mollendo and its beaches as a vacation spot, especially on weekends.

From this event and ahead, Tambo is a main protagonist into the region history, due their geographical position and serving as weapons and food supply depot.

After Tiahuanaco's culture decadency and during the Inca era, the Peruvian south coast was occupied by several tribes: The river basin formed by the Tambo river, probably conquest and occupied by external forces during several periods, generate a population with local and heterogeneous customs, leaving several vestiges about their civilization, suddenly attached to the remaining mixed etymology name from several languages such as Quechua, Cocachacra, Challascapi, etc.

The defenses of Mollendo consisted of two small forts with no cannon ( which were days earlier transported to Arequipa) defended by 100 soldiers.

Colonel Barbosa with 500 soldiers left Mollendo towards Mejia in search of the defenders, leaving the 3rd Chilean Line Infantry in charge of the town, looting of homes quickly began.