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In 1513, King Ferdinand had appointed de Avila to be a governor to the Isthmus of Darien because Vasco de Balboa had been governing the land unofficially since 1511. Even Pedrarias was already old; he sailed with his wife to the land of Isthmus of Darien in the year 1514. He was given the title as the Captain General and also bearing the title as the Governor of the Castilla de Oro. Along his journey, the king had allowed Pedrarias to bring along with him 2, 000 armed men.

Pedrarias had arrived at his destination on June 29, 1514. As an educated man, he then started the trial and followed the proper process in the execution of Balboa. Pedrarias had deemed Balboa as a very dangerous rival and to the fact that almost all of the people who were original settlers of the land were already on Balboa's side. They had a judicial hearing to the case of Balboa. The hearing was progressing until such time that it was postponed until further notice. The rivals had then talked it out and have their own agreements. Balboa even had an engagement to Pedraria's daughter who was still in Spain at that time. Balboa and his men had prepared a couple of ships on the Pacific to help him escape the trial. But during the time of Balboa set sail, he was arrested by Pedrarias together with his men. After arresting Balboa, Pedrarias continued the interrupted judicial hearing. Years later, Balboa and his men died on the scaffold at Acla in the year 1519.

During the time Pedrarias had a complete control of the land and the people, they had then planned to make a number of expeditions. Andres Niño together with Gil Gonzales had discovered the coast of Costa Rica and Nicaragua while Pascual de Andagoya went to Peru and his work was then continued by Diegode Almagro and Francisco Pizarro. Years on the service, a new governor; Lope de Sosa is ready to sail and replace Pedrarias. But, the supposed to be new governor got ill in his cabin and then died before he reached Darien.

Pedrarias continuing in his good service had moved to Nicaragua. He then went back to Darien in the year 1527 before he was replaced by Pedro de los Rios as governor. He then sailed back to Nicaragua where he faced a lot of difficulty because his people are voicing grievances. He also got into a trouble with a subordinate; Gil Gonzales who in the long run he beheaded.

Pedrarias died on May 30, 1531 after his long years of expedition and good quality services. He died in the town of Leon; a town where he had also founded. Pedrarias was a great man and is very much dedicated to his service. He had attained his uttermost triumph and satisfaction and he did not let any of his rivals bring him down.

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