The Cerrato Palentino covers an area of 1700 km², characterised by the numerous valleys, formed by many rivers, that stretch across the land. The valleys rise and fall, creating extensive desolate highlands between them. In some cases, hydric erosion has reduced the desolate highlands to hillocks, crests or monadnocks, from which the region gets its name.

The region is composed of 40 municipalities: Alba de Cerrato, Antigüedad, Astudillo, Baltanás, Venta de Baños, Castrillo de don Juan, Castrillo de Onielo, Cevico de la Torre, Cevico Navero, Cobos de Cerrato, Cordovilla la Real, Cubillas de Cerrato, Dueñas, Espinosa de Cerrato, Hérmedes de Cerrato, Herrera de Valdecañas, Hontoria de Cerrato, Hornillos de Cerrato, Magaz, Melgar de Yuso, Palenzuela, Población de Cerrato, Quintana del Puente, Reinoso de Cerrato, Soto de Cerrato, Tabanera de Cerrato, Tariego, Torquemada, Valvuena de Pisuerga, Valdeolmillos, Valle de Cerrato, Vertavillo, Villaconancio, Villahán, Villalaco, Villamediana, Villamuriel, Villaviudas, Villodre, and Villodrigo.