This article examines the cultural traits of the Chango ethnic group, trying to find out the basic elements which determine their cultural identity. The author distinguishes three main criteria through which such identity is obtained, and which isolates the Chango fishermen from any other cultural group: the ecological, the economic and the cultural. Such criteria are established on the basis of "eco-cultural indicators", i. e. , representative elements of their cultural behaviour through which the influence of Ecosystem becomes evident.El presente artículo examina los rasgos culturales del grupo étnico chango, tratando de encontrar aquello que determina su propia identidad cultural. El autor distingue tres criterios básicos principales que confirman dicha identidad cultural y que aíslan a los changos de cualquier otro grupo humano: el criterio ecológico, el económico y el cultural. Estos criterios se establecen sobre la base de "indicadores eco-culturales", i.e. elementos representativos de su conducta que manifiestan una evidente impronta del ecosistema.