“We’re the perfect bandits. What could possibly go wrong?” 

That’s how Bandidos, an action-adventure series about a ragtag crew of bounty hunters searching for the biggest treasure in human history, begins. Turns out… a lot can go wrong. Though they have the key to secure the bag — a treasure map that takes them to ancient ruins and tropical locales — they’re not the only ones hunting it down. 

From creator Pablo Tébar (Diablero), Bandidos was directed by Adrian Grünberg (Rambo: Last Blood) and Javier Ruiz Caldera (Spy Time). The series stars Alfonso Dosal, Ester Expósito, and Juan Pablo Medina. 

When will Bandidos be released?

Stream it now.

Where can I find the trailer for Bandidos?

Check it out at the top of this page. 

Andrea Chaparro as Citlalí, Mabel Cadena as Inés, Juan Pablo Fuentes as Lucas, Alfonso Dosal as Miguel, Ester Expósito as Lilí, Nicolás Furtado as Octavio, and Juan Pablo Medina as Wilson in Bandidos

Julieta Horak/Netflix

Who’s in the cast of Bandidos?

• Alfonso Dosal (Narcos: Mexico) as Miguel, a con artist and leader of the bandits
• Ester Expósito (Elite) as Lilí, a scammer
• Juan Pablo Medina (The House of Flowers) as Wilson, a counterfeiter and Miguel’s uncle
• Juan Pablo Fuentes (Pact of Silence) as Lucas, a hacker and gamer
• Mabel Cadena (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) as Inés, a police officer
• Nicolás Furtado (El Marginal) as Octavio, a mercenary who used to be in the military
• Andrés Baida (Who Killed Sara?) as Ariel Tavitiun, a famous archeologist and museum owner 
• Andrea Chaparro (Rebelde) as Citlalí, a pickpocket
• Bruno Bichir (Sicario: Day of the Soldado) as Juan, Miguel’s father
• Fermín Martínez (Narcos: Mexico) as Canché
• Adrián Ladrón (You Cannot Hide) as the mysterious man

Alfonso Dosal as Miguel in Bandidos 

Julieta Horak/Netflix

What happens in Bandidos?

Con man Miguel (Dosal) is flat broke and needs money to help out his legendary archaeologist father, Juan Morales (Bichir), who has Alzheimer’s. While working at a luxury hotel, Miguel spots his old pal Lilí (Expósito), whose career is scamming rich men out of their fortunes… and she wants nothing to do with him. 

But everything changes when Miguel discovers a map of the Snake King’s treasure — his father’s white whale. No one’s ever seen it, no one’s ever found it, and Miguel is determined to be the first who does. So he recruits a group of odd ducks — including Lilí, a teen gamer named Lucas (Fuentes), and Miguel’s forgery-expert uncle (Medina) — to go after this historic Mayan treasure. Unfortunately, they soon realize they have some ruthless competition in hot pursuit, so they’ll have to traverse dangerous excavation sites throughout the Mexican Caribbean with their heads on a swivel. 

Alfonso Dosal as Miguel and Juan Pablo Fuentes as Lucas in Bandidos 

Julieta Horak/Netflix

Is Bandidos based on a true story?

No, though the series contains historical references to many real aspects of Mayan culture. Luis Fernández de Montejo is a fictional character, but the Spanish conquistador ancestor he mentions — Francisco de Montejo — was real, as was Juan de la Cosa, a cartographer. Both lived during the 15th and 16th centuries. 

The origins of the treasure are also rooted in reality: The city of Calakmul, where Miguel and his team go to find gold, is a real archaeological site in Campeche, Mexico. Once known as the Snake Kingdom, Calakmul was a Mayan city run by the powerful Kaan, or Snake, dynasty. It’s alleged that a Snake King named Aj Took, who Luis mentions to Miguel in Episode 1, was its final ruler. Whether he actually was — or if he had any hidden treasures like in Bandidos — is up for debate, but ancient art devoted to Snake Kings has been found throughout Central America for years.

Andrea Chaparro as Citlalí, Juan Pablo Fuentes as Lucas, Nicolás Furtado as Octavio, Alfonso Dosal as Miguel, Ester Expósito as Lilí, and Mabel Cadena as Inés in Bandidos

Julieta Horak/Netflix

Where does Bandidos take place?

It takes place primarily in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. 

Where was Bandidos filmed?

The series was filmed in Mérida, Playa del Carmen, Veracruz, Morelos, and Mexico City — all in Mexico. 

Will there be a Bandidos Season 2? 

Stay tuned. There’s been no official confirmation about a second season of Bandidos. 

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