Eva Luna
Eva Luna is the narrator and the main protagonist of the book. Her mother is a servant and her father a gardener, who leaves Eva and her mother after being healed from a snakebite.
She is characterized by her storytelling skills and her ability to survive and see life positively despite having suffered so much in life. She uses her imagination to distance herself from the harsh reality that surrounds her, by rewriting painful memories as happy ones in her imagination. She has a generous and empathetic nature and so often justifies the bad behavior of the people she loves, even if they treat her badly.
At the end of the book, she falls in love with Rolf Carle and they decide to marry.
Rolf Carle
Rolf has a kind and loving mother but a cold, sadistic father, and he lives in Eastern Europe before moving to South America after his father is killed by some local boys. He tries to look cold and emotionless, but on occasions, he reveals his romantic nature. He becomes a photojournalist filming the guerrilla movement and meets Eva through his work, eventually falling in love with her.
Riad Halabi
Riad Halabí is a kind and generous Turkish man who takes Eva, who is living on the streets, home to live with him and his wife. Riad has a cleft lip that he keeps covered with a handkerchief. He is very well-respected by everyone in Agua Santa for his compassionate and just nature. However, he is not loved by his wife, who is disappointed that Riad is not rich and rejects him because of his deformity. This makes Riad deeply wounded and starved for love and affection. He owns a shop which is the center of commerce for the small village. He becomes like a father to Eva and teaches her how to read and write.
Madrina
Eva's godmother takes care of Eva after her mother dies. She drinks a lot of rum, which often affects her judgment and decisions. She is devoted to Catholicism, though she doesn't practice it as she should because she doesn't pray properly and drinks alcohol. She treats Eva harshly, punishing her even for small and negligible mistakes. Eventually, she loses her mind.
Zulema
Zulema is the wife of Riad Halabi. She doesn't do anything, but still only complains about the things she doesn't have in life. Despite Riad being kind and devoted to his wife, she rejects him. She is obsessed with being rich and having the most precious jewels around her neck. She starts a short romance with Riad's cousin, but after he abandons her, Zulema becomes even less involved in life. Bored and not interested in her life anymore, she commits suicide.
Huberto Naranjo
Huberto is a guerrilla fighter whom we first meet when Eva Luna runs away from her patrona's house. He has lived on the streets since he was young and helps Eva in exchange for stories. Later, he comes to Eva's aid again by placing her in the care of La Señora. Naranjo spends much of his youth leading gangs and stealing from the wealthy but he later finds himself at a clandestine meeting and is introduced to the guerrilla movement. During his time as a guerrilla named Comandante Rogelio, he meets Rolf Carle. When he is back from his missions in the mountains he meets with Eva, transforming from a brotherly figure to her lover. Comandante Rogelio is successful in his mission to free his compañeros from prison and continues to fight against the government.
