Some regions are extremely heterogeneous in their geography and cultures, in particular la Cañada and the Central Valleys.

The areas with the greatest productive potential are populated by mestizos. One might easily be led to believe that the indigenous populations are afflicted by marginality and poverty. Yet this poor socioeconomic status is due to the fact that the best productive and arable lands were taken from indigenous peoples, first by the Spaniards and religious orders, and later by the mestizos.