Nicaragua
The debut of Redemption Island, built around Boston Rob's fourth attempt at the title and Russell Hantz's return.
Sole Survivor
Rob Mariano
Won the jury 8-1-0
Also read at the Final Tribal Council
How Rob Mariano won
On his fourth try, Rob ran his tribe like a mob boss — controlling every vote, every idol clue, every move — to finally claim the crown that had eluded him for a decade.
Era
The New School Era
2010–2020
Timeline
22nd of 50
Aired 2011
Filming
Nicaragua
2nd of 4 seasons filmed here
The 2 tribes marooned when the game began — and where the names come from.
Named after Ometepe, an island formed by two volcanoes in Lake Nicaragua.
Named after Zapatera, a volcanic island in Lake Nicaragua.
At the merge · they became Murlonio — Merge tribe — a coined word with no real translation; it echoes 'Mariano' and lent its name to Rob Mariano's company, Murlonio Productions.
Veterans who came back for another shot at the title.
The named voting bloc that ran this season — the stories give away late-game moves, so they sit behind the idol.
Boston Rob's Redemption Island machine, dressed up by Phillip Sheppard as a mock secret agency complete with code names ('The Specialist', 'Boston Rob' as the mentor). Beneath the theatrics it was one of the most disciplined alliances ever — Rob never got a vote cast against him all season.
Idol moments
Already holding the hidden idol, Rob spotted the next clue tucked in a tin of cookies, palmed it while handing out the snacks, and tossed it into a Nicaraguan volcano on camera — “it really doesn't matter what it says, because I already have the idol.” He ran Ometepe like a mob boss and finally won on his fourth try.
Around the fire
“Cirie never needed an idol. She WAS the idol — read every vote a round early and bent the whole jungle to her will without a single immunity win. That's the cei…”
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