Survivor: Cook Islands

Survivor: Cook Islands is the thirteenth season of the American competitive reality television series, Survivor. The season was filmed from June 26 to August 3, 2006, and premiered on September 14 of that year. Filmed in the Cook Islands, it was broadcast by CBS. The season had 20 contestants who were initially divided into four "tribes" by ethnicity: African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Caucasian. The tribes were named after some of the Cook Islands: Manihiki, Puka Puka, Aitutaki, and Rarotonga. They were later merged into a single tribe, Aitutonga. The season was the first with a final consisting of three participants, rather than two. Yul Kwon defeated Ozzy Lusth and Becky Lee by a jury vote of 5–4–0 and was named the Sole Survivor, winning $1,000,000.

Survivor is a reality television show based on the Swedish show Expedition Robinson, created by Mark Burnett and Charlie Parsons. The series follows a number of participants isolated in a remote location, where they must provide food, fire, and shelter. The last remaining player receives a prize of $1,000,000.

The tribal camps, Exile Island, and many of Survivor: Cook Islands challenges were filmed on motu (islets) in the Aituaki lagoon. The Rarotonga (later Aitutonga) tribe's camp was on Moturakau, and the Aitutaki tribe lived on Motukitiu. The short lived tribes of Manihiki and Puka Puka lived on Rapota and Muritapua, respectively. Most challenges were filmed on Tekopua and Tapuaetai (One Foot Island). Exile Island is a small sand cay south of Tapuaetai, and the bow of the wooden ship was brought in for the show. West of Tapuaetai is another sand cay, called "Nude Island" by locals because of its lack of vegetation. The third challenge was staged in the shallow water just off the shore of Nude Island. Akaiami hosted challenges and "The Ponderosa", where eliminated contestants remained until the end of the game. The Tribal Council, the production camp, and a few challenges were located on the main island of Aitutaki. There were three reward trips to the neighboring islands of Atiu, Mitiaro, and Rarotonga. Taio Shipping diverted the MV Maungaroa from its usual schedule to a charter for the producers of Survivor: Cook Islands in June 2006, triggering fuel and electricity crises on the island of Mangaia.

The tribes were named after the islands of the Cook Islands: Manihiki, Puka Puka, Aitutaki, and Rarotonga. They were later merged into a single tribe, Aitutonga. Notable people on this cast include professional volleyball player J. P. Calderon, and actor, producer, and screenwriter, Jonathan Penner. +List of Survivor: Cook Islands contestantsContestantAgeFrom Tribe Finish Original Switched Post mutiny Merged Placement Day 45Los Angeles,California1st voted outDay 3 36New York City,New York rowspan="3" 2nd voted outDay 6 29 Oakland,California3rd voted outDay 8 30 Long Beach,California rowspan="2" 4th voted outDay 11 35Columbia,South Carolina5th voted out Day 14 42Christiansburg,Virginia6th voted outDay 15 35 Santa Monica,California7th voted out 27Chico,California8th voted outDay 18 29Santa Monica,California rowspan="4" rowspan="8" 9th voted out1st jury memberDay 21 34Laurelton,New York10th voted out2nd jury memberDay 24 36Lake Forest,Illinois11th voted out3rd jury member 26Playa del Rey,California rowspan="9" 12th voted out4th jury memberDay 27 23Washington,D. C. rowspan="4" rowspan="2" 13th voted out5th jury memberDay 30 44Los Angeles,California14th voted out6th jury memberDay 33 23West Hollywood,California rowspan="2" 15th voted out7th jury memberDay 36 27San Diego,California16th voted out8th jury memberDay 37 31Los Angeles,California rowspan="4" rowspan="4" 17th voted out9th jury memberDay 38 28Washington,D. C.2nd runner upDay 39 24Venice,CaliforniaRunner up 31San Mateo,CaliforniaSole Survivor

Jonathan Penner, Ozzy Lusth, and Parvati Shallow were selected to compete again in Survivor: Micronesia. Shallow returned for Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains with Candice Woodcock. Lusth returned for a third time in Survivor: South Pacific and for a fourth time in Survivor: Game Changers. Penner returned for his third time in Survivor: Philippines. Woodcock returned for her third time, this time as "Candice Cody," in Survivor: Blood vs. Water along with her husband, John. Shallow and Yul Kwon returned to compete on Survivor: Winners at War. Outside of Survivor, Lusth competed on the second season of American Ninja Warrior. Kwon was a contestant on the USA Network reality competition series, Snake in the Grass. In 2024, Shallow competed on the second season of the Peacock reality TV series The Traitors.