Mollendo is a summer beach resort, busy January to March, but almost deserted for the rest of the year. It is frequented primarily by people from Arequipa. If you are there in season this can be a nice place to stop and enjoy the beach for a day or two. The town itself is quite pretty, with hilly streets and two colonial churches. The landscape
around the town is all desert and dunes. In the off season the main attraction is the nearby Mejía bird sanctuary of Sanctuario Nacional Lagunas de Mejía.
Mollendo also has an active nightlife during the summer months.