Survivor: Costa Rica

***Survivor: Costa Rica*** is the thirteenth season of *Survivor: The Sims*. This season premiered on September 23, 2021, with a two-hour special. The season was filmed in the Cabo Blanco Nature Reserve located on the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula. In addition, *Costa Rica* is the first season since *Survivor: Chile* to feature a cast of twenty new players.

In the end, Taylor Underwood was awarded the title of Sole Survivor, defeating fellow finalists Hayden Visser and Kelly Wright in a 7-3-0 vote. *Costa Rica* was praised for its wide variety of personalities and strategic abilities of the cast, as well as the unpredictability of the game within the post-merge portion.

## Production

*Survivor: Costa Rica* was announced at the finale of *Survivor: Vanuatu*. Production wanted to switch the location for the show up and film outside of Oceania. Casting began in mid-September, with the official contestants being flown out for promotional photos on September 19, 2021.

On September 21, 2021, the first eight castaways were revealed via the show's social media as well as website.

## Twists/Changes

* **Larger Cast:** For the first time since *Survivor: Philippines*, twenty castaways will compete for the chance to become the Sole Survivor.
* **Hidden Immunity Idol:** Once again, the Hidden Immunity Idol was hidden at each tribe's camp. Hidden Immunity Idols are eligible for use up until Day 36.
* **Tribe Expansion:** On Day 11, fifteen of the sixteen remaining castaways were divided into three tribes of five. A third tribe, Katira, wearing yellow buffs was introduced.
* **One-Time Exile Island:** The castaway who did not draw a buff during the tribe switch was sent to Exile Island with an opportunity to find the Idol Nullifier. The exiled player returned to the game after Tribal Council, replacing the eliminated castaway on the losing tribe.
* **Idol Nullifier:** Introduced on Day 11 after the tribe expansion, the Idol Nullifier holds the power to void the usage of a Hidden Immunity Idol.
* **Earlier Merge:** The tribes merged with twelve castaways remaining.
* **Vote Steal:** After the merge, a vote steal was hidden at the tribe's camp.
* **Expanded Jury and Final Three:** The jury cycle began one vote before the merge, similarly to *Survivor: Palau*. The final three castaways faced a jury of ten.

## Castaways

**^1** During the tribe expansion, Adrianne did not draw a buff, and was sent to Exile Island. After Tribal Council, Adrianne joined the Cajón tribe to even up the numbers.
## Season Summary

**^1** Combined reward and immunity challenge.
**^2** After Taylor won the immunity challenge, it was revealed she also had won reward. She shared the reward with Kiera and Kelly.
## Voting History

**^1** During the tribe expansion, Adrianne did not draw a buff, and was sent to Exile Island. After Tribal Council, Adrianne joined the Cajón tribe to even up the numbers.
**^2** Because of Rahul's evacuation, there was no vote and Tribal Council was cancelled.
**^3** On Day 25, the first vote ended in a 4-4-3 tie between Melissa and Simone, resulting in a revote. Melissa and Simone were unable to vote, and the other castaways had to either vote against Melissa or Simone.
**^4** Vicky played a Hidden Immunity Idol on Andrew, negating 4 votes against him.
**^5** On Day 33, the first vote ended in a tie between Jeremy and Simone, forcing a revote.
**^6** Simone played a Hidden Immunity Idol, negating 3 votes against herself.
**^7** Simone used her Vote Steal power on Andrew, stealing his vote.
**^8** Kiera played a Hidden Immunity Idol on herself, negating 2 votes.
## Trivia

* *Costa Rica* is the second season to be filmed in Central America, after *Survivor: Panama*.
* This season marks the first appearance of the Idol Nullifier advantage, however it was ultimately not used. It was found by Adrianne Ibarra, who had the advantage in her pocket when she was voted out.
* *Costa Rica* is the first season since *Survivor: All-Stars* to feature a tribe expansion. Overall, this is the fourth season with an expansion.
* This season features the highest amount of three-way votes, with seven overall.
* *Costa Rica* is so far the only season featuring an evacuation to only have one evacuated castaway. The other seasons to have an evacuation had multiple evacuated castaways throughout the season.
* Before the tribe expansion, the two original tribes alternated between challenge wins as well as visits to Tribal Council.
* This is the third season where the final three was entirely made up of members of the auxiliary tribe, after *Survivor: Panama* and *Survivor: All-Stars*.
* This is the second season, following *Survivor: Palau*, where the jury cycle began before the merge.