Abstract
<jats:p>This study conducts a comparative analysis of socio-ecological vulnerability in six coastal communities of the Ecuadorian tropics, integrating mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative). The conceptual framework based on the components of Exposure, Sensitivity, and Adaptive Capacity allowed the construction of a Comparative Coastal Vulnerability Index (CCVI). The results identified three distinct profiles: 1) Critical Vulnerability (Afro-Ecuadorian and indigenous communities), determined by the intersection of high exposure, historical marginality, and eroded adaptive capacities; 2) Moderate Vulnerability, with dependence on institutional response; and 3) Low Vulnerability, associated with cohesive social capital and economic diversification. The discussion emphasizes that socioeconomic and governance factors are more determinant than biophysical exposure per se. It is concluded that adaptation policies must abandon standardized approaches and adopt differentiated interventions that prioritize environmental justice, the strengthening of basic rights, and support for self-managed resilience in the most critical communities.</jats:p>