Set against the background of the exploration of the Aztec civilization, TIDES ACROSS THE SEA opens in the year 1519, where the passion for adventure and the lust for gold reign in the hearts of both young and old. Felipe is no exception, though his yearning for adventure is tempered by his love for the beautiful Manuela. She wants to marry him, but when Felipe ends up on Cortés' ship bound for the New World, the young couple is pulled apart. Felipe and Manuela each must find a way to overcome the odds stacked against them if they want to someday reunite.