El Cibao valley is considered the most fertile and productive region in the island of Hispaniola. The area is made up of seven provinces: Santiago, Monseñor Nouel, Duarte, Espallat, La Vega, Sanchez Ramirez, and Salcedo. And in addition to these, there are other neighboring provinces which consider themselves part of El Cibao. The valley is surrounded by the mountain ranges of La Cordillera Septentrional to the north and La Cordillera Central to the south. Cibaeños, as the local people are called, are hard working people who have turned their region into an outstanding social and economic engine for the Dominican Republic. The following images are a small glimpse of the landscape and lifestyle of El Cibao's rural areas.