Survivor: Pearl Islands · Season 7
In the Arena
Every challenge Survivor: Pearl Islands staged — who took immunity, who won reward, week by week.
25 challenges ran this season — 15 with immunity on the line and 10 for reward.
- Episode1
- Immunity
Cannon Carry
Pirates had to protect the loot they plundered from other pirates by moving from an island to another island and transporting their utility with them and therefore the tribes would be demonstrating the same course of action. Located at Snapping Duck Bay, each tribe had a makeshift cannon with detachable parts and they needed to navigate and transport it through a series of hard obstacles. They had to take the cannon apart first and get it through two fences, then they had to clear a path covered with rocks everywhere to get it through, then they had to drag it through thick mud and then race to the finish with one member carrying the tribe flag and one member carrying the tribe torch. The tribes needed to cross the finish line first with all eight members and their cannon intact.
Drake wins
- Episode2
- Reward
Bountiful Chest
Tribes had a treasure chest in the ocean that was missing five treasure items. Each tribe member one at a time had to dive down and retrieve an item then put it in their treasure chest. Once all five items are inside the chest, the tribe swims out to it and carries it ashore. First tribe to bring their chest back to shore would win.
Reward: The winning tribe will get the first of three pieces of a map to a hidden treasure chest. The winning tribe will also send one of their own to loot one item from the opposing tribe's camp.
Drake wins
- Immunity
All Tied Up
Three tribe members from each tribe were tied to a raft by a rope that was being pulled by their tribe in order to pull the raft away from shore and closer to the clue. The tribemembers sitting on the raft had to untie themselves before freeing their teammates. After they were free they swam out to receive their clue which was a set of coordinates. They took their clue and their rope to shore and went into a circle where they used the rope and the clue to create a dig spot. After finding the dig spot teams had to dig until they found their flag which had to be raised in order to win.
Drake wins
- Episode3
- Reward
Sprung a Leak
Sink the other tribe's two boats (each with three people inside) any way necessary. Once your own boat sinks, you're out of the challenge.
Reward: Mattress, pillows, blankets; loot one item from losing tribe; piece of treasure map
Drake wins
- Immunity
Pull Your Weight
One person is harnessed to a rope above the water, while the tribe attempts to hold them up for as long as possible. Every five minutes, the player pulling at the front of the rope must let go. The last tribe to drop their tribemate wins.
Drake wins
- Episode4
- Reward
Float-It Notes
Grab sixteen puzzle pieces buried in the sand and tied up underwater, then solve the puzzle.
Reward: Sewing machine and material; loot one item from losing tribe; piece of treasure map
Drake wins
- Immunity
Boarding Party
The format: Kidnapping
Each tribe member would move one space at a time across a platform to try and get to the opposite tribes platform. If two contestants from different tribes block each other from moving they will have to engage in a physical showdown, with the first person to fall having to go back to the start. The first tribe to get all their members to the opposite platform wins immunity.
Morgan wins
- Episode5
- Reward
Paddle for Paddles
The format: Kidnapping
The tribes must row to one of four floating crates, where one person dives down to grab two ladder rungs. Once all eight are collected, they row back to shore. One person runs to an old well to pull up a bucket with an idol inside, bringing it back. Meanwhile, the rest build a puzzle ladder with the rungs gathered and the two side panels. Then, the runner climbs it with the idol. First runner to the top wins.
Reward: Bush shower, toiletries, cooking pot, rain jackets, and two jerrycans; loot one item from losing tribe; piece of treasure map
Morgan wins
- Immunity
Survivor Smoothie
The format: Buggin' Out
Jeff has a spinning wheel of seafood/island-related items, which will be blended into a smoothie after they're spun up. In a tie, each tribe chooses the other tribe's representative for the tiebreaker, which involves six of the twelve items on the wheel.
Morgan wins
- Episode6
- Reward
Ready, Aim, Fire
The two tribes must use cannons to hit four targets on the beach. The first tribe to hit all four targets wins reward.
Reward: Grill, spices, lobsters, steaks; loot one item from losing tribe; piece of treasure map
Drake wins
- Immunity
Shoulder the Load
The format: Water Torture
Three members of each tribe will have a pole across their shoulders. Each round, weight (20 lbs.) will be added to that pole. The decision about which tribe member gets the weight will be made by the other tribe. When the weight becomes too much to bear, the tribe member will drop the pole and be out of the challenge. The last person left standing wins immunity for their tribe.
Morgan wins
- Episode7
- Immunity
Pirate Prison Break
The format: Jail Break
One member from each tribe must race to a jail cell to untie one tribe member before moving to the next cells where their other tribemates are waiting. At the last cell are sticks and rope the tribes must use to retrieve a key outside to escape the prison. The first tribe to free themselves from the prison and reach the finish mat wins the challenge.
The Outcasts wins
- Episode8
- Immunity
Keel Hauling
For the first round, the castaways must jump from a pontoon into the water, pull themselves along a rope under the pontoon to the opposite end without surfacing, climb back onto the pontoon, and run back to the start. This is done in two heats of five, the first two players in each to finish two laps move on. For the final round, the same thing is done, but players must do five laps, and move a medallion to the front each lap. First to move all five medallions to the front wins.
Won by Burton
- Episode9
- Reward
Signal Fire
The format: Blue Plate Special
The castaways must use slingshots to break three plates hanging from a mast in order from bottom to top, transporting a fire to the crow's nest. If a player smashes a plate out of order, they can't light their crow's nest, and are eliminated. Run in three heats of three, the winners move on to the final round, where the same thing happens.
Reward: Breakfast on a yacht
Won by Rupert
- Immunity
Mixed Nuts
The format: Survivor Quiz Show
The castaways must answer questions about pirate folklore. Each castaway who answers correctly would get to place coconuts in the bins of another castaway. When a castaway receives five coconuts, they are out of the challenge. The last castaway standing wins.
Won by Rupert
- Episode10
- Reward
Rats in the Rigging
The format: The Obstacle Course
In randomly-chosen pairs, climb a fishnet to the deck, climb a cargo net to reach a rope and pulley, one person pulls a bell over, the other person rings it. Then, retrieve a rope with a grappling hook, swing to fishnet, climb to deck, then to crow's nest, one person unties knots to lower bell, second person rings it. Slide down sail, release a rope, grab the bell-ringer that drops, ring final bell. Two heats, two pairs in each heat, winners move on to final. The course is the same, but at each bell the player who gets the bell must also ring it, while the other player then grabs a bag of puzzle pieces. The final rope must be chopped with a cutlass to grab a key. The key opens a treasure chest with a solving station inside. The first pair to solve the puzzle wins.
Reward: Deep-sea fishing trip.
- Immunity
Killer
In this game of blowdarts, each castaway will have an individual marked section on the gameboard (sub-divided into 1-, 2-, and 3-life sections). Each castaway must first land a dart anywhere in their section to become a killer, after which they may shoot at the other players' sections to get rid of their lives and/or killer status. Once a castaway has lost their killer status and all three lives, they are out of the challenge. The last person left wins.
Won by Burton
- Episode11
- Reward
Loved Ones Overboard
The format: Know Your Loved One
Loved ones stand on a plank over the water, divided into segments. When a player and their loved one provide the same answer to a question, players force any loved one to take a step backwards. The fourth step is into the water, and out of the challenge. Last loved one left dry wins reward.
Reward: Overnight stay at Balboa with loved one
Won by Jonny Fairplay
- Immunity
What Do You Make of This?
The format: Swahili Scramble
?Make three 3-letter, four 4-letter, five 5-letter, six 6-letter, and two 7-or-more-letter words from the letters in SURVIVOR PEARL ISLANDS. No plurals, proper nouns, and non-English words are allowed. In addition, all words must be spelled correctly, and the words 'Survivor', 'Pearl', and 'Islands' are forbidden. The castaway must call for Probst if they are confident with their answers. The first to 20 valid words, they win. If not, they will be disqualified from the challenge.
Won by Darrah
- Episode12
- Reward
Water Obstacle Course
This is an obstacle course decided in randomly chosen trios, and with positions on the course also randomly chosen. One player must cross a floating beam from one platform to another, jump into the water, swim to two floating crates, untying a paddle at each, swim to the platform, and climb on to find the second team member. The other two must jump into the water, dive down to unhook three barrels, making them rise, swim to the next platform, untie paddle beneath it, and climb on to find the final team member. All three must then swim to shore, get into their boat, and row back to the starting platform. The first team to complete the course wins.
Reward: Overnight spa visit, and swimsuits from luggage.
Won by Lillian, Darrah, Jonny Fairplay
- Immunity
Musket Love
The format: Spear-It Hunt
The castaways must fire their musket to hit sails on the beach, causing them to burn. The first person to have all three of their sails set alight (either by themselves or their opponents) wins.
Won by Darrah
- Episode13
- Reward
Let's Give It Another Go, Mate
The format: Survivor Pentathlon
Starting tied to a post by hands and ankles, the contestants must untie themselves, dig under a fence, and use the ropes on a circle marked with compass directions to figure out where to dig for a key. They will then use the key to enter a jail cell, use the sticks and twine inside to make a pole, grab a key outside the cell, unlock the other door, grab a slingshot and break three plates with bags of puzzle pieces attached, pull on ropes to grab the bags, empty them, and use the letters inside to form a 'very famous pirate term'.
Reward: An overnight trip to the Panama Viejo ruins, a brand new GMC Envoy XUV (car)
Won by Burton
- Immunity
Corks and Keys
The contestant must fill their canteen with seawater, cross a balance beam without falling off, and pour the water from their canteen into a tube, raising a key attached to a tiny float. They will then unlock the second beam and lower it, and repeat the process. If they need to refill at any time, they must return to the starting platform to do so. They must get five keys and lower five beams to grab their flag, before crossing them again to get to the start. The first to finish wins.
Won by Darrah
- Episode14
- Immunity
Tribal Draft
The format: Jury
The castaways must answer questions about pirate trivia and survival facts. The first person to answer five questions correctly wins.
Won by Lillian
- Immunity
Set Adrift
The format: Sea Legs
The final three will balance on a pontoon for as long as possible, using only their hands and legs for balance. The last person holding on wins.
Won by Lillian
A record set here
1st
the dead-grandma con
At the Pearl Islands loved-ones reward, Jonny Fairplay's friend lied that his grandmother had died — she was home watching TV — and the whole cast handed him the win out of sympathy. Only Sandra Diaz-Twine didn't buy it. Still the most notorious reward-challenge play ever.