Kino is a young, strong Native Mexican pearl diver living in poverty on the Baja California peninsula. He provides for his family by diving in the Gulf of California using an inherited canoe. Deeply connected to his cultural heritage, he experiences the world through internal songs that reflect his instincts and emotions. When he discovers an unusually large pearl, he imagines a future free from colonial exploitation.

Juana is Kino's diligent and resilient wife. She handles the daily domestic labor of their brush house and demonstrates immense physical endurance, easily capable of steering a canoe. While she shares her husband's initial excitement over finding the pearl, she possesses a grounded perspective that balances his impulsive nature.

The Doctor is a wealthy European settler residing in the stone-and-plaster city of La Paz. He provides medical care only to affluent residents and longs to return to his former life in Paris. He views the Indigenous population with contempt and outright refuses to treat them unless they possess significant wealth.

Coyotito is the infant son of Kino and Juana. As a passive but highly influential figure, his physical vulnerability dictates his parents' actions and ambitions early in the story. Kino views the child as the family's future advocate against the systemic exploitation of their people.

The Priest is a religious leader in the city of La Paz who ministers to the local population. He treats the Indigenous residents like children, using religious doctrine to encourage their submission to colonial powers. His interactions with Kino are marked by subtle manipulation and a focus on church finances.

Juan Tomás is Kino's older brother and a trusted member of the brush house community. He serves as an advisor to Kino, providing wisdom based on the history and collective memory of their people. He takes a resigned view of the social hierarchy, warning his brother about the dangers of challenging the established system.

Apolonia is the wife of Juan Tomás and the sister-in-law to Kino and Juana. She lives in the brush house community and participates in the local customs alongside the other residents, offering support during moments of crisis.

The Pearl Dealers are local businessmen who purchase goods from the divers of La Paz. Though they maintain separate offices and pretend to bid against one another, they actually work as low-level employees for a single monopoly. They employ sleight of hand and false friendliness to severely underpay the divers.

The Beggars are a group of impoverished residents who spend their days outside the local church. They observe the townspeople closely, gathering intimate knowledge of everyone's fortunes. They follow Kino and Juana out of curiosity, hoping to receive a generous handout.

The Neighbors form the tight-knit Indigenous community living in the brush houses outside La Paz. They act as a collective presence, flocking to moments of excitement and providing ongoing commentary. They share Kino's social standing and project their own hopes onto his sudden fortune.

The Hunters are a team of three men who pursue targets across the Baja Peninsula. Comprised of two men on foot and one on horseback armed with a rifle, they act with methodical efficiency. They scan the ground for tracks and work relentlessly to locate their prey.