El Cercado is a rural town in the San Juan province of the Dominican Republic.

Its population has decreased in recent years as many people emigrate to Santo Domingo and other areas of the country looking for a better life, as well as also for study reasons.

It previously belonged to the municipality of Bánica and was called the Sabana del Bohío, and was elevated to town by President Fernando Arturo de Meriño in 1888.

The first families to settle in this area were Florencio Montero, Telésforo de Oleo, Encarnación, Manuelica y Fidel Matos and Leonardo Brito.

The main crops are beans, pigeon peas, onion, avocado, sour and sweet orange, corn, rice, sweet potato, pumpkin and coffee; other minor fruits and vegetables are also produced there.