Survivor 11 - Guatemala

Survivor: Guatemala - The Mayan Empire (also known as Survivor: Guatemala for short) is the eleventh season of Survivor, and it is set inside of the ruins of the Maya civilization. Specifically, the series is in Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo National Park near the more popular Tikal National Park, located in northern Guatemala. A preview of the show's location was shown during the finale of Survivor: Palau. The season premiered on September 15, 2005 on CBS. The finale was on Sunday, December 11, 2005 on CBS. Danni Boatwright became the sole survivor by defeating Stephenie LaGrossa by a vote of 6-1. This season also features the return of Palau contestants Stephenie LaGrossa and Bobby Jon Drinkard.

According to Jeff Probst, temperatures appeared to be well over 110 degrees with high humidity, as he talked about it during some of the competitions. Challenges like the 11-mile hike through the jungle and "Mayan basketball" showed how exhausted all the castaways were. In Day 1, many of the Nakúm men were sick after the hike, and had a tough time recovering.

In this season, the second of the early stages of the future Exile Island was completed. After the merge, production placed a tiny Immunity Idol in the Xhakum tribe. Gary Hogeboom found it up in a tree, protecting him for that Tribal Council. Unlike future seasons, this Idol could only be used before the vote instead of after, and once it was exposed, it wouldn't be used anymore. However, it could be used until the Final Four.

The tribes were Yaxhá (blue buffs, living in a shelter in the jungle) and Nakúm (yellow buffs, living adjacent to the Mayan ruins). Both of these tribes were named after two former Mayan cities. The final ten members merged into the Xhakúm tribe (red buffs, at Nakúm's old camp) marking the third time that all names in previous tribes were blended into one.

One contestant, Tina Scheer, was slated to be on the show, however her son Charlie was killed in a car accident. She backed out and returned in Survivor: Panama, where she placed last.

The contestants arrived on June 22nd and began filming on June 27th. Filming ended on August 4th and contestants returned home August 5th.





The Winner of Survivor: Guatemala

 was Danni Boatwright