On a fishing expedition, Luis, a 12-year-old Mexican youth, discovers an ancient Mayan idol and befriends a giant sea turtle. Luis is torn between selling the relic, a symbol of his ancestry, and protecting his heritage from profiteers. The boy resolves his inner conflict with guidance from his adult friend and fishing companion, Chano. Luis develops a strong belief in ancestral pride and learns to love without coveting after he adopts the spiritual and moral values of the old fisherman.