This season began with a fake-out. The tribes were told to vote for someone who would not make the trek to camp. Sierra Reed was chosen from the Timbira tribe and Sandy Burgin was chosen from the Jalapao tribe. Both Survivors assumed they were out of the game but were actually flown to their respective camps.
The format for the end of the game this season was there would be a Final Two who would compete in front of the Jury of seven.
Exile Island returns this season but the format was changed. The winning tribe chooses a member of the losing tribe to be sent there. Then the person chosen gets to choose a member of the winning tribe to come with them to Exile Island. A further twist is when they arrive at Exile Island, there are two urns, one with two notes in it and one with nothing in it. One of the notes is a clue to the Hidden Immunity Idol and one states that the person can switch tribes, if they want.