The year is 1843, and news of the discovery of gold in California has reached Valparaíso, Chile. Eliza and Joaquin Andieta are in love. However, Joaquin is swept up in the popular gold rush and heads north to seek his fortune, abandoning Eliza, who is pregnant with his child. Determined and independent-minded, Eliza decides to leave her hometown of Valparaíso and undertakes a perilous sea voyage to San Francisco in search of her beloved. What she finds instead is setbacks and adventure. When Eliza finally receives news of Joaquin, she faces the choice of who her true love really is.