Province · Noroeste: Monte Cristi e a fronteira

Valverde

Valverde is the province of Mao, in the Yaque del Norte valley: rice fields and banana plantations, river swimming spots, Victorian houses and the most famous sunsets of the northwest.

In the photo: Yaque del Norte River in Mao (Valverde)

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

The province

Get to know Valverde

Valverde lies in the northwest of the Cibao valley, between Santiago and Monte Cristi, cut by the Yaque del Norte river and by tributaries that descend from the Central Mountain Range, such as the Mao and the Ámina. It is a flat, agricultural province, one of the country's largest producers of rice and bananas, with irrigation canals and green fields.

The capital, Santa Cruz de Mao, or simply Mao, is the largest city in the northwest and the commercial center of the Línea Noroeste. The downtown preserves wooden Victorian-style houses, squares and churches, and the city hosts popular festivals and an active nightlife on weekends.

The rivers form swimming spots sought by local families, such as those on the Mao river, and the northwest is famous for its sunsets, seen from the high points of the city and the open fields, with the sky dyed orange over the rice fields.

The province is named after José Desiderio Valverde, president of the country in the 19th century. The guide does not list cities in Valverde, which is usually crossed on the way between Santiago and Monte Cristi.

When to go

The region is hot and drier than the rest of the Cibao; from December to April the heat is more bearable. The rainy season runs from May to November, with afternoon downpours. Sunsets are beautiful year-round, especially in the dry months.

Getting there

Mao is about an hour from Santiago via the northwest road, with frequent buses and public vehicles, and about three and a half hours from Santo Domingo. Those arriving by plane land at Cibao (STI) in Santiago, one hour from Mao. Monte Cristi is about an hour from Mao.

Your questions

Frequently asked questions about Valverde

What to see in Valverde?

Mao's downtown, with Victorian houses, the river swimming spots and the sunsets over the rice fields.

Are Mao and Valverde the same place?

Not exactly: Valverde is the province, and Mao, or Santa Cruz de Mao, is the capital.

Is Valverde on the way to Monte Cristi?

Yes, the northwest road passes through Mao between Santiago and Monte Cristi.

What is grown in Valverde?

Mainly rice and bananas, with fields irrigated by the rivers that descend from the Central Mountain Range.

Tap a province to see its destinations. Limites: Oficina Nacional de Estadística / OCHA-HDX / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.