El Real de Santa María is a corregimiento in Pinogana District, Darién Province, Panama with a population of 1,183 as of 2010.

It is 17 kilometres (11 mi) by boat to the town of Yaviza, the terminus of the Pan American Highway.

[2][3] The town was founded by the Spanish as a fort in 1665 to protect their gold mining interests in the area.

[4] The English Buccaneer Bartholomew Sharp took over the town and fort in 1680, but found the Spanish had removed most of the gold they hoped to seize, and left after a few days.

[5] El Real Airport is an airstrip serving the area.