De Bernieres' experiences from spending time living in Colombia will probably have influenced its setting. Geographically, references are made to the country's equatorial climate, its northern coastline on the Caribbean, western coastline on the Pacific Ocean and the mountain range of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Margarita, which is similar to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Colombian town of Valledupar, in the Cesar Department, and Medellín are commonly mentioned, and the fictional town of Chiriguana bears the same name as the Colombian Chiriguana.
The author's time in Colombia likely had an impact on the setting, as evidenced by references to the country's tropical climate, Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Margarita mountains. The Colombian towns of Valledupar and Medellín are often mentioned, alongside the fictional town of Chiriguana, which shares a name with its real-life counterpart.