Costeros

Costeros is a demonym used in Spanish to refer to people who live in coastal areas of a country or region. The term derives from costa, meaning coast, and can appear as costeños in many places or as costeros in regional usage. It is commonly used to describe inhabitants of Atlantic, Caribbean, or Pacific coastal zones, including urban and rural communities, with local variants in pronunciation and spelling.

Geographically, the label is applied across several Spanish-speaking regions, including parts of the Caribbean and the Pacific littoral. In some countries, costeños or costeros are identified with particular coastal cities or provinces, while in others it denotes a broader coastal identity rather than a strict administrative boundary.

Costeros typically share a maritime-oriented way of life, with economies historically centered on fishing, ports, trade, and increasingly tourism. Cultural expressions, dialect features, and culinary traditions in coastal areas often reflect a mix of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and mestizo influences, shaped by long-standing contact with the sea and international trade.

Social and economic conditions among coastal populations can vary widely. Coastal communities may face challenges such as economic inequality with inland areas, migration to cities, and vulnerability to climate-related risks like storms and sea-level changes. Regional variation means that the specific cultural traits and socio-economic dynamics of costeros differ from one country or region to another.

See also: costeño; pescadores; maritime cultures.