The show is based on stranding a group of strangers as one or more tribes in a remote location, where they must fend for food, water, fire, and shelter for themselves, while competing in challenges to earn rewards and immunity from being voted off by the tribe in progressive eliminations; the last challenger remaining at the end of the competition wins two a reward that ranges from two hundred million to three hundred million pesos prize (100-150 thousandUS$) and title of "Colombian Robinson".
Both seasons were hosted by former beauty queen and actress Margarita Rosa de Francisco.
For its part, Caracol TV has developed a variation of the show whose name is El desafío 20-0_ (in which the last number represents the year the season has been aired.
So far, nineteen seasons of El Desafío have been aired, ten of them hosted by Margarita Rosa de Francisco.
Contestants were divided into two initial tribes: Ukups and Atchas, these Kuna words mean "ants" and "bees", respectively.
He won the 200 million pesos price and was presented as "the first Colombian Robinson" He got some TV contracts but he refused to honored them.
This time, the show format was changed extensively for the production of numerous 30 minute episodes.
Episodes were broadcast from Sunday to Friday, and did not necessarily end with a Tribal Council elimination.
This season was called Expedición Robinson: el desafío (desafío means challenge in English) and the chosen location to set the show was Los Haitises National Park, Dominican Republic.
Challenges were more difficult than previous season and the contestants were not given any initial supplies, including food, water or matches.
Contestants were divided into two initial tribes: Mucaro and Kahaya, these Taíno words mean "owl" and "shark", respectively.