The new castaways are stranded in the unforgiving jungles of Guatemala, left to live inside the Mayan ruins in the new season of Survivor! The tribemates are split up into two tribes automatically and are greeted with a surprise as they approach host Jeff

Yaxha, after struggling to find protein, considers eating ants for energy, while Nakum has problems of its own. Blake and Bobby Jon are still reeling from the hike, and Blake's injury may keep him from going any further in the game. Plus, another castaway is shown the boot at a tough tribal council.

The third castaway gets voted out of their tribe.

In a twisted ""reward"" challenge, four players are sent out for a picnic lunch in the Mayan ruins as their tribemates are shuffled up with members of the opposing tribe. Thus, Yaxha is now composed of four former Nakum members and only three Yaxha members, and the current Nakum is made up of four of each tribe. Upon arriving home from their picnic, Gary, Amy, Judd, and Margaret are shocked to find out about the switch, and all of the survivors scramble to find a new alliance. Although most are drawn on former tribal lines, Judd fits in better with Stephenie and Jamie, and quietly makes a pact with them to turn on his old tribemates. Nakum loses the Immunity Challenge, and at Tribal Council, Judd is forced to act on his new alliance, doing so by being the swing vote and eliminating Brooke from the game.

Another player is voted out.

After winning an arduous Reward Challenge, one tribe member ruins it for the rest by becoming intoxicated and obnoxious.A grueling physical challenge pushes two castaways to the breaking point, leading to a screaming match that comes close to exploding.In a Tribal Council first, one castaway bullies and insults a fellow tribe member despite attempts to keep the peace.

The physical nature of the game takes its toll on Yaxhá when they cope with bangs and bruises from the Reward challenge the week before. At this week’s challenge, the teams play for a sweet reward, chocolate and a zip line tour through the jungle. Nakúm panics and falls behind while Yaxhá springs ahead and takes the ride of their lives through the Guatemalan jungle. For Danni’s birthday, Yaxhá invites Nakúm over to their camp for a pool part, but Jamie gets rather paranoid about his tribemates making friends with the others. For the Immunity Challenge, the tribes race to unearth pieces of a puzzle, and despite a close competition, Nakúm assembles their puzzle first. Back at Yaxhá, Amy feels that she is the next to go, but Brandon and Danni, still undecided, try to figure out whether they should off Bobby Jon because Amy is more deserving of the final prize. With Amy and Bobby Jon at risk, the tribe votes out the weaker of the two, Amy. After the reveal, Yaxhá is thrown for a loop upon

Tensions flare in the Mayan temples when Yaxha and Nakum merge into Xhákúm and Bobby Jon instantly clashes with the abrasive and stand-offish Jamie. The following morning, the former Yaxha tribe members immediatley get to work while the powerful former Nakum members, who outnumber Yaxha, sit back and relax, conspiring who would be best to vote off next. Later, the players are shocked to discover that somewhere in the jungle is a hidden immunity doll that could secure one of the players safety until the final four. At the Immunity Challenge, Jamie lays everything out on the table as he makes it clear that the former Nakum tribe, six strong, will be voting as one, picking off each of the four former Yaxha members one by one. Despite Gary's victory, this is exactly what happens at Tribal Council when Brandon's torch is snuffed, although Jamie now has almost everyone against him.

A castway joins the jury.

The merged tribe tries to get along together and a second member joins the jury.

Another jury member is added.

Another jury member is added.

The tribe is now down to Five. At the Reward Challenge, the Survivors are given a chance to win a car. Cindy ends up winning the car but is surprised by a twist: Jeff reveals that the winner of the car has never won the game, and some fans have claimed that the pattern is a curse. To thwart the superstition, Jeff gives Cindy the option to give up her newly-won car and give one to each other player in the game. A distraught Cindy decides to keep her own car and chooses Stephenie to come with her on the Reward, an overnight stay at an archeological dig. In the Immunity Challenge, Stephenie manages to unwind herself from a series of poles before the others, pulling off her first individual challenge victory ever, securing her a spot in the Final Four. At Tribal Council, the "car curse" continues when Cindy's irritated tribemates vote her out of the game unanimously.

The final four witness a Mayan ritual in their camp but when the Mayans leave the ruins, Stephenie, Lydia, and Danni resort to eating the sacrificed chicken, spelling bad luck for the finalists. The players then go to the next Immunity Challenge, where Rafe wins and Lydia is voted out at Tribal Council. The next morning, the remaining Survivors pay tribute to the people that have been voted out. The final Immunity Challenge results in Danni's victory, who is approached by Rafe, who tells her that he releases her from any promises that she had made to him, allowing her to choose freely between either him or Stephenie for the Final Two. Danni chooses Stephenie to sit next to her in the last Tribal Council, which irks the ousted Rafe. The jury later asks their questions to Steph and Danni, and live, the final reading of the votes takes place in Los Angeles, where Danni wins in a landslide victory.

All 18 contestants sit and talk for the first time since leaving Guatemala. Hosted by Jeff Probst. At the end of the episode, we find out about the 12th season of the series: Survivor Panama: Exile Island in which one or more Survivors will be exiled on a deserted island each week.