Max is an 11-year-old boy living in the village of Santa Maria. He comes from a family of skilled stonemasons but hopes to continue his family's legacy by playing on the local fútbol team. He possesses a vivid imagination, enjoys telling stories about local legends, and wears a compass around his neck that belonged to the mother who left him as a baby. He craves independence and wishes his overprotective father would trust him with greater responsibility.

Papá is a serious, hardworking stonemason and bridge-builder who briefly played for the national fútbol team before returning home to raise his family. He prefers concrete reality over daydreams and carries the weight of past sorrows, specifically the sudden departure of his wife. He protects Max fiercely, seeking to shield his son from disappointment by keeping him grounded and withholding painful family secrets.

Buelo is Max's grandfather, a former bridge-builder and national fútbol player who proudly shares a photograph of himself with the famous athlete Nandito. Unlike his serious son, Buelo embraces whimsy, magic, and local folklore. He serves as a gentle mediator in the household, using storytelling to pass down coded instructions and wisdom to his grandson.

Isadora is a very young girl, roughly five or six years old, escaping terrible labor conditions in the neighboring country of Abismo following the death of her parents. She is initially terrified and completely silent, carrying only a rescued kitten and a wooden box carved with a fig tree. Despite her young age and the trauma she endures, she displays remarkable bravery on her journey.

Chuy is Max's closest peer and a fellow fútbol enthusiast in Santa Maria. The two boys consider each other brothers, but their bond faces tension when Chuy receives his parents' permission to attend a prestigious summer clinic that Max cannot join. He slowly begins prioritizing his new clinic teammates over his history with Max.

Ortiz is the son of a wealthy local councilman and lives in the largest house in Santa Maria. He is slightly older than his peers, already showing signs of physical maturity with a deepening voice and facial hair. He uses his family's status to boast, buys expensive treats for the other boys to win their favor, and frequently repeats his parents' judgmental gossip about Max's family.

Guillermo, often called Gui, is the youngest and smallest boy in Max's friend group. Despite his small stature, he is highly knowledgeable about fútbol and believes in the village's magical myths. He tends to follow the social current, easily swayed by Ortiz's wealth and invitations.

Yadra is the keeper of the secret bridge. While local rumors paint her as a frightening river witch or troll, she is actually a tall, comforting woman with a wide smile, rosy cheeks, and mismatched boots. She collects objects lost in the river for her "garden of the miscellaneous" and provides a safe haven for those fleeing cruelty.

Renata is Max's absent mother. Her sudden disappearance casts a heavy shadow over the Córdoba family. Before leaving, she carefully prepared clothes for Max's future and took all her identifying documents, leaving behind only a short note, a compass, and many unanswered questions about her desire to reach "Mañanaland."

Father Romero is a man operating within the hidden network of guardians. He arrives urgently seeking Papá or Buelo to transport a young girl to safety. Finding them absent, he reluctantly agrees to let Max take on the dangerous responsibility.

Rosalina is Isadora's older sister. She recently escaped forced labor and the threat of an unwanted marriage in Abismo, successfully traveling through Santa Maria. She waits at a safe location, serving as Isadora's primary motivation for enduring the difficult journey.

Lola is Max's loyal dog. She follows him through his daily routines in Santa Maria and provides crucial physical assistance and protective instincts when he leaves on his dangerous river journey.

Churro is a small kitten that Isadora rescued during her escape. The animal provides essential emotional comfort to the frightened young girl during her difficult travels.