Survivor: Panama β Exile Island , also known as Survivor: Panama , is the twelfth season of the American CBS competitive reality television series Survivor . The game began with the 16 competitors split into four tribes by both relative age and gender. They were introduced to the concept of "Exile Island" with the promise of a hidden immunity idol located somewhere on it, while one person from the losing tribe at challenges would be sent to the island and given clues to look for it. After the first four days, the four tribes were merged by schoolyard pick with mixed genders into two tribes, Casaya and La Mina. Each week at least one castaway is banished to Exile island away from all other contestants for the time period between the reward and immunity challenges. The castaway is given a single machete, a flint, a pot and a bucket of non-sanitized water.

The 12th season begins with 16 castaways arriving in Panama and dividing into four tribes (older men, older women, younger men, younger women). The four teams compete in a reward challenge and the losing tribe is forced to banish one of its members to "Exile Island" to live alone until the next challenge. The good news is that there is a hidden immunity idol on the separate island. At tribal council, the first person is voted out.

Six days on the island and one survivor is ready to go home.

The castaway banished to Exile Island faces one of the worst nights in SURVIVOR history.

A banished castaway thrives on Exile Island.

One tribe is outraged when they learn two of their tribemates secretly consumed part of the reward without consulting the others.

The social dynamics of tribe Casaya continue to implode.

Additionally, clips of upcoming episodes will also be revealed, along with a preview of a brand new episode to air when SURVIVOR: PANAMA -- EXILE ISLAND returns to its regularly scheduled time period.

The tribes merge and the former La Mina tribe of four tries to convince some of the former Casaya tribemates to join their alliance.

Two tribe members are sent to Exile Island and they form an unexpected bond. Castaways from the original La Mina team try to break up the Casaya alliance. At tribal council, the eighth person is voted off of the islands.

Certain castaways choose not to participate in the Immunity Challenge.

One survivor suffers a medical emergency.

Since Terry has possession of the hidden Immunity Idol, it's clear the Casaya alliance will have to vote out one of their own at the next Tribal Council.

The five remaining castaways compete for a visit from a loved one in the reward challenge. Also, two players have a heated argument and one of them detects a weakness to exploit. At the immunity challenge, Terry attempts to remain undefeated in individual contests. The 12th person is voted out at tribal council.

With a one-in-four shot at winning a million dollars, the Final Four survivors are feeling the pressure.

The castaways are reduced to two finalists who are then questioned by the seven-member jury before they vote for the winner.

The winner is revealed as the 16 castaways reunite in New York City, where they are questioned by host Jeff Probst.