Julio
Julio is one of the main characters in the film. He and Tenoch have always been best friends growing up, and between the two of them, Julio is the less serious one, more goofy and uninhibited. Julio comes from a middle-class family with left-leaning politics. His father disappeared when he was young, so he was raised by his mother and sister. Like Tenoch, he does not always take life very seriously, preferring a beer and a spliff to thinking about adult responsibilities. His lower-class status comes under fire when Tenoch finds out that he slept with Ana, his girlfriend, and calls him a "hillbilly." Julio takes it in stride, but is hurt by the fact that his friend looks down on him in some way.
Tenoch
Tenoch is Julio's best friend, and comes from a wealthy family. His father is a high-ranking political figure who is overbearing and expects Tenoch to study economics, with no regard for what Tenoch actually wants. Tenoch is fun-loving and carefree like Julio, but has the weight of his father's expectations on his shoulders, which causes him some stress. In their blowout fight, Julio calls Tenoch a "yuppie," alluding to the fact that he is a rich kid, and Tenoch takes offense. One thing the friends can agree on is the fact that Tenoch's father is corrupt.
Luisa
Luisa is married to Jano, Tenoch's cousin. She initially declines Julio and Tenoch's invitation for a road trip, but after Jano tells her that he's been cheating on her, she accepts and sets out with the two boys, eager to have an adventure. What we don't know until the end of the film is that Luisa was diagnosed with cancer before she goes on the road trip, but she doesn't tell Julio nor Tenoch. Thus we come to understand that her adventuresome spirit and her willingness to sleep with both of the young men is not simply a way of getting back at Jano, but a way of enjoying her life before it comes to an end. Luisa is a dental technician who had to give up her dreams and pursue a career at a young age when she was taking care of a sick aunt. She feels intimidated and marginalized by Jano's artist and intellectual friends, and enjoys an old-fashioned good time. When Julio and Tenoch head back home, Luisa stays behind to explore the beach, and tells the boys that "life is like foam," an urging for them to embrace life with all their hearts.
Jano
Jano is Luisa's husband and Tenoch's cousin, a somewhat pompous and depressive academic. He clearly has a drinking problem and is insecure about his position in the world, condescending to his young cousin and cheating on his wife multiple times.
Chuy & Mabel
Chuy and Mabel are a fisherman and his wife, who take the travelers in and give them a tour of the beaches. They enjoy the simple pleasures, but as we learn in a retrospective narration, their idyllic life living off the land does not last long. After developers take over their home and build a luxury hotel, Chuy must stop fishing and has to begin working as a janitor for the hotel in order to support his family.
