Mollendo: Beaches, Culture and Coastal Views

Long stretches of coastline and distinctive cultural attractions define Mollendo. Playa Mollendina stretches for approximately 9 km from the first beach to Sombrero Grande. If you are considering a stay in the area, you can combine an interest in beaches with architecture, exhibitions or local cuisine. These different attractions can help you decide what to focus on during your trip, without limiting your stay to a single activity.

Beaches and finding your way along the coast

The first beach is 268 m long and about 75 m wide in its central section. Its width varies with sea conditions. These measurements refer to the first beach, while the approximately 9 km describes the stretch from there to Sombrero Grande. This helps distinguish the size of an individual section from the full extent of Playa Mollendina.

The first and second beaches have food outlets, parking, showers, changing rooms and toilets. If you are travelling with children, these facilities may factor into your choice of where to spend a beach day. They also provide a practical reference point if you plan to spend time at the first two beaches; they should not be taken as a description of every beach section.

The Costanera along the third beach is a road open to traffic and part of the coastal route. It connects all the beach sections as far as the Valle de Tambo. For travellers driving, this connection is a useful reference point when planning the coastal route. You can view the beaches as part of a longer drive rather than focusing only on a single beach.

Castillo Forga and the cultural station

Castillo Forga lies between the second and third beaches. Construction began in 1924. The castle was built in an eclectic style and has concrete balconies offering views of beaches No. 1 and No. 2 on the Arequipa coast. Architecture and coastal views provide a different focus from a day at the beach: the castle offers a specific reason to explore Mollendo’s buildings and coastal setting.

Mollendo railway station is by the sea in the lower part of the city, opposite the first beach and 3.5 m above sea level. The former station has been converted into the Mollendo Cultural Station. It has exhibition halls for cultural events such as press conferences, concerts, anthologies, and art and photography exhibitions. The Museum of Chiribaya Culture is also located there. If you want to include culture as well as the coast in your travel plans, you will find a range of exhibition topics in one place.

Sea views and Mollendo cuisine

Muelle Turístico Mollendo offers places to relax and views of the seascape. It provides a different experience from the beaches, with a focus on the views and places to relax. It may be an interesting addition to your day if you would like to include somewhere with a sea view alongside the beach.

Mollendo’s cuisine includes seafood dishes served at the restaurants in Caleta de Catarindo. This culinary draw complements the beach and cultural experiences with a reason of its own to discover the local cuisine. These varied interests can help you narrow down your search for suitable accommodation in Mollendo.

More destinations

More places in the same destination:

Chivay.

Back to the main destination overview: Arequipa.