Dora the Explorer, seven-years-old, speaks English and Spanish. She loves adventure, and playing baseball and soccer with her friends. Dora is responsible for teaching the other characters and viewers how to be caring, respectful and proud of their cultural heritage.
Boots, a five-year-old monkey, is Dora's best friend. Dora found the English-speaking Boots in the forest. He got his name for the big red boots he always wears on his feet. Boots follows Dora through her adventures, often holding her hand. In addition to pulling stunts that make Dora laugh. Boots likes to play baseball on Dora's baseball team. Boots helps Dora with her clues when on an adventure, but sometimes Boots makes the wrong decisions.
A four-year-old purple squirrel, Tico has mastered the art of transportation. He can drive a car, fly an airplane and captain a boat. Tico speaks Spanish and is very brave when Dora is in trouble and needs help. He is also friends with Boots and in some episodes he is seen driving around in his little yellow car.
Isa is a mature, six-year-old, green iguana. She loves gardening and growing flowers. As an iguana, Isa has the ability to blend in to the background. When Dora and Boots need information, Isa is there to give it to them.
Swiper is a sly fox that isn't friends with Dora, or Boots. In fact, he tries to steal the items Dora needs to complete her missions. The only way to stop Swiper from stealing objects is to have viewers shout, "Swiper, no swiping," three times. Swiper tries to hide, but he can be seen in a blue mask and gloves.
Benny is a six-year-old blue bull. He wears a polka-dot bandanna around his neck, lives in his Grandmother's barn and loves to eat. Clumsiness is something Benny is famous for, as well as riding around in a hot-air balloon. Benny only speaks English.
Backpack is bilingual like Dora, speaking English and Spanish. His job is to hold a variety of items, including the ones Dora needs to complete her mission. Once Dora and the viewers sing a song to Backpack, he opens up to reveal his contents. The children at home must then shout out the item Dora needs to use to solve her current problem.
Map lives in one of Backpack's pockets. Just like Backpack, Map has his own song. When the song is sung, the map opens up to reveal where Dora needs to go next. Map also shows Dora and the children at home where the final destination is. Map only speaks English.