Bandidos is set and was filmed in Mexico, and follows a gang of skilled misfits who have been brought together to find a fabled treasure in the Maya Riviera. The backdrop and local history provide plenty of flavor to the ensuing escapades, so we’ve broken down as much of the production as we can for the benefit of fans looking for a little more backstory.
Filming Locations
Merida, Mexico
Most of the filming was done in Mexico, particularly in the city of Merida. Located in the Yucatan area of Mexico, Merida Mérida is the capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the largest city in south-eastern Mexico. The crew would make full use of the area. An article in The Yucatan Times reports that “Bandidos features various settings throughout the state, with filming taking place in Seye, Acanceh, Progreso, as well as in Mérida locations such as Olimpo and Siglo XXI, among others.”
The site would go on to report specific street closures made to accompany the filming of the series. These include:
- Calle 64 between 61 and 59, downtown area
- Calle 63 between 74 and 70, downtown area
- Yucaltepén Bridge
- Calle 103 between 60 and 62
The streets were closed, and locals were advised of the times so they could find alternative routes.
Peten, Guatemala
As far as some of the more fantastical locations used in Bandidos go, it was reported that The Tikal, also known as Yax Mutal, is featured in the show, and is notable for being the ruins of an ancient city. Found within the rainforest in Guatemala, the city features the Mesoamerican archaeological site of Yaxha (south).
Various Mexican Locations
The crew would also utilize neighboring areas including Playa del Carmen, Veracruz, Morelos, and Mexico City. After the filming in Mérida, the production moved to Quintana Roo.
Who produced Bandidos?
Bandidos was produced by Stacy Perskie and Mark Holder, and Christine Holder and Andrew Wilson are the executive producers.
Information about the production of Bandidos is very scant, however, we can confirm that filming for the series began in April 2023. The first season debuted exclusively on Netflix on March 13, 2024.
There are seven episodes of Bandidos to get through, each clocking in at around 45 minutes.
Leads and Supporting Cast
Ester Expósito and Alfonso Dosal are the two leads in the show playing Lilí and Miguel. The talented model and actress Ester has a huge worldwide fanbase and is most widely known for her starring role as Carla Roson Caleruega in the Spanish drama series Elite which you can also find streaming on Netflix.
The supporting cast includes:
- Juan Pablo Medina as Wilson
- Juan Pablo Fuentes as Lucas
- Mabel Cadena as Inés
- Nicolás Furtado as Octavio
- Andrés Baida as Ariel Tavitiun
- Andrea Chaparro as Citlalí
- Bruno Bichir as Juan
- Fermín Martínez as Canché
- Adrián Ladrón as the mysterious man
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