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  50. 50In the Hands of the Fans2026
Nicaragua key art
Season 21 · 2010Young vs. Old

Nicaragua

Nicaragua

A season split by age, remembered more for its bewildered cast than its strategy — and a sunny, surprising champion nobody saw coming.

Jud "Fabio" Birza

Sole Survivor

Jud "Fabio" Birza

Won the jury 5-4-0

Year
2010
Location
Nicaragua
Format
Young vs. Old
Days
39 days
Castaways
20
Grand prize
$1,000,000
Jury vote
5-4-0

Also read at the Final Tribal Council

Chase RiceSash Lenahan

How Jud "Fabio" Birza won

The goofy, underestimated Fabio caught fire at the perfect moment, winning the final immunities he had to win and charming a jury into a narrow victory.

The bigger picture

In context

Era

The New School Era

2010–2020

Timeline

21st of 50

Aired 2010

Filming

Nicaragua

1st of 4 seasons filmed here

Starting tribes

The 2 tribes marooned when the game began — and where the names come from.

Espadasword

Spanish for 'sword'.

La Florthe flower

Spanish for 'the flower'.

At the merge · they became Libertad — Nicaragua merge tribe — Spanish for 'liberty / freedom'.

Also filmed in Nicaragua

Redemption Island key art

Redemption Island

Season 22 · 2011

San Juan del Sur key art

San Juan del Sur

Season 29 · 2014

Worlds Apart key art

Worlds Apart

Season 30 · 2015

Idols & advantages

The twists in play

The whole arsenal

Debuted this season

Medallion of Power

A tribe-level token: whoever held it could cash it in for a head start in a challenge — but spending it immediately handed it to the rival tribe.

Go deeper

Explore Season 21

The Cast

The whole tribe in finish order, Sole Survivor to first boot.

20 castaways

Episode Guide

Every episode, with recaps of how the season actually played out.

14 episodes

In the Arena

Every challenge that ran, episode by episode, and who won each one.

22 challenges
Around the fire

Common questions

Who won Survivor Nicaragua?
Jud "Fabio" Birza won Survivor: Nicaragua (Season 21, 2010), taking the jury vote 5-4-0.
Where was Survivor Season 21 filmed?
Survivor: Nicaragua was filmed in Nicaragua.
When did Survivor Season 21 air?
Survivor: Nicaragua aired in 2010 and ran 39 days.
Who were the finalists in Survivor Nicaragua?
Jud "Fabio" Birza won at the Final Tribal Council alongside Chase Rice and Sash Lenahan.

Around the fire

The tribe's debating Survivor 21 right now

Cast your vote, drop a hot take, and climb your torch — every contribution is tied to your profile at Tribal Council.

Join the debate at Tribal

Season 21 of 50