Villa Riva is a town and municipality (municipio) of the Duarte Province in the Dominican Republic.

The community of El Cercado was founded in 1845 by President Pedro Santana.

It previously belonged to the municipality of Bánica and was called the Sabana del Bohío, and was elevated to town by a war veteran, Francisco Rodriguez.

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

The main economic source is agriculture consisting of cattle, snuff, honey, wax, leather and coffee.