Carlos Castaneda (1925–1998), Brazilian or Peruvian author on Mesoamerican shamanism

Jorge Ubico y Castañeda (1878–1946), President of Guatemala 1931–1944

Jorge Castañeda (b. 1953), Mexican politician and academic, Secretary of Foreign Affairs 2000–2003

Oliverio Castañeda (1955–1978), Guatemalan student civil-rights activist; assassinated

Hector-Neri Castañeda (1924–1991), Guatemalan philosopher and author

Germán Villa Castañeda (contemporary), Mexican football player

Luis Castañeda Lossio (contemporary), Peruvian politician, mayor of Lima

Patricia Castañeda (b. 1976), Colombian actress and writer

Cacho Castaneda (b. 1942 as Humberto Vicente Castagna), Argentine singer and actor

Maria “Movita” Castaneda (b. 1917), American actress, second wife of Marlon Brando

Justiniano Borgoño Castañeda (1836–1921), Peruvian soldier and politician, President of Peru briefly in 1894

Castaneda, municipality in the district of Moesa, Graubünden canton, Switzerland

Christian Castañeda (b. 1968), Chilean football player

Perry-Castañeda Library, central library of the University of Texas Austin library system

Maureen Castaneda (contemporary), American businesswoman, former officer of Enron Corporation

Alfonso Castaneda, municipality in Nueva Vizcaya province, Philippines

Dr. Carlos Castañeda Elementary School, McAllen, Texas, USA

Juan Castaneda (b. 1980), Spanish championship fencer

Salvador Castaneda Castro (1888–1965), Salvadoran politician, President of El Salvador, 1945–1948