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    Heist • Solo / Duo / Trio / Quatro

    Cayo Perico

    Intel, preparations and finale form one team-aware plan: the selected team determines bag capacity, roles, loot order and entry and escape route.

    1–4 playersJump to walkthrough ↓
    Tropical island, speedboat and submarine over an operation planCAYO / PERICO
    Required purchaseKosatka
    Entry cost$2,200,000 + $100,000 per repeat
    Possible GTA$$400,000–$1,001,000
    Possible RP2,905 RP
    Cooldown2 hrs 24 min
    01

    Complete financial model

    Team gross$1,000,000min: $800,000 · typical: $1,000,000 · max: $1,200,000
    Setup / supply cost$100,000min: $100,000 · typical: $100,000 · max: $100,000
    Fees and commissions$120,000min: $96,000 · typical: $120,000 · max: $144,000
    Player payout (net)$780,000min: $556,000 · typical: $780,000 · max: $1,004,000
    Player $/h (from payout)$668,571min: $476,571 · typical: $668,571 · max: $860,571
    Full-cycle timefast: 48 min · typical: 1 hr 10 min · beginner: 1 hr 50 min
    Cooldown
    2 hrs 24 min2 hrs 24 min after a solo finale; 48 min after a group finale.
    First weekly cycleThe first weekly target state uses the more favourable observed distribution. Rockstar confirms a weekly refresh but does not publish the trigger that consumes this state; it is not an automatic payout multiplier.
    Scouted target selection

    Primary targets and odds

    • Rockstar confirms a weekly refresh but does not publish the exact trigger that consumes the favourable target state. The table therefore distinguishes first and subsequent weekly target states instead of promising a particular Gather Intel sequence.
    • The 0/40/40/20% and 80/10/8/2% distributions are community-maintained observations, not an official Rockstar table.
    • Base secondary-loot value is reduced by 10%; the primary-target-dependent bonus is +20/+10/+5/0%, respectively.
    • The character's first-ever hosted run has the fixed Madrazo Files and sits outside the ordinary table. The Panther Statue is event-only and also remains outside the permanent distribution.
    Weekly target states
    Payout targetFirst weekly target stateSubsequent weekly target state
    Sinsimito Tequila0%80%
    Ruby Necklace40%10%
    Bearer Bonds40%8%
    Pink Diamond20%2%

    The character's first-ever hosted heist and event targets are outside this table.

    Primary target values
    Payout targetNormalHardSecondary bonus
    Sinsimito Tequila$400,000$440,00020%
    Ruby Necklace$560,000$616,00010%
    Bearer Bonds$616,000$677,6005%
    Pink Diamond$910,000$1,001,0000%

    ranking baseline: the host takes the maximum cut and every partner gets 15%; the guide supports individual cuts, while the host pays the setup cost

    02

    Complete step-by-step operation

    OPERATIONS GUIDE V2 • SOLO

    Intel, preparations and finale form one team-aware plan: the selected team determines bag capacity, roles, loot order and entry and escape route.

    Start here

    Exact requirements
    • Meet Miguel Madrazo in The Music Locker, then buy the Kosatka from Warstock Cache & Carry.
    Purchase / contact / menu

    Enter the Kosatka command centre and select The Cayo Perico Heist on the planning screen.

    Starting location

    The command centre aboard your Kosatka.

    Board or marker

    The heist planning screen beside Pavel's station.

    Purchases not required
    • The Sparrow, weapon workshop and other Kosatka upgrades can shorten logistics but do not unlock the finale.

    First run and replay

    These are two persistent story instructions. They are not the finance calculator's weekly-variant switch.

    01

    First story playthrough

    The first run includes the Music Locker meeting, Kosatka purchase, first Gather Intel and full discovery of the drainage tunnel and loot points.

    02

    Story replay

    Launch a replay with Pavel once the heist is available again: run fresh Gather Intel, prepare for the current target and reuse previously discovered entry points.

    Official mission order

    1. 01
      unlockfirst run only

      Introduction: Madrazo Files

      The Music Locker meeting, Kosatka purchase and first contact with Pavel open the heist board.

    2. 02
      prep / preparation

      Gather Intel

      Travel to the island and scope the primary target, drainage tunnel, secondary loot and entry points needed by the current team.

    3. 03
      prep / preparation

      Approach Vehicle

      Acquire the approach vehicle that matches the scoped loot and selected entry; the route model distinguishes the Kosatka from the Longfin.

    4. 04
      prep / preparation

      Safe Code or Plasma Cutter

      Complete the equipment mission required by the current primary target — safe codes or the plasma cutter.

    5. 05
      prep / preparation

      Fingerprint Cloner

      Acquire the fingerprint cloner needed to pass the security protecting the underground target.

    6. 06
      prep / preparation

      Cutting Torch

      Acquire the cutting torch after discovering the drainage tunnel; it opens the grate and padlocks without demolition charges.

    7. 07
      prep / preparation

      Weapon Loadout and optional Disruption

      Choose a weapon loadout with suppressors; complete disruption missions only when the plan genuinely expects combat.

    8. 08
      finale

      The Cayo Perico Heist

      Launch the finale with entry, loot, roles and escape route matched to the currently selected team.

    Strategies that genuinely change the route

    scoped outside loot

    Longfin and loot before the compound

    When
    When the selected team cannot fill every bag with accessible compound loot.
    Plan
    Collect the precisely scoped bag shortfall at a dock or airstrip first, then enter through the drainage tunnel and finish inside the compound.
    Trade-off
    The extra stop lengthens the approach but removes improvised detours after taking the primary target.

    Plan for the selected team: SOLO

    Selected in the calculator • Fill the bag outside the compound first. Longfin → cocaine → tunnel → safe → target → cliff.

    Concrete roles

    One player — every role

    The host handles intel, the Longfin, hacks, office safe, primary target and escape.

    Actions, risk and run recovery

    1. 01
      finaleFind one compact loot cluster
      Action
      Scope the primary target, drainage tunnel, airstrip and docks. Two cocaine stacks in one location are ideal; with one office painting, only plan 50% bag space outside the compound.
      Tip
      During Gather Intel choose one compact loot stop that fills the solo bag before the compound.
      Risk / failure condition
      Scattered partial stacks force detours and increase detection risk before the primary target.
      How to recover the run
      Return to the intel map, drop the distant stop and rebuild around one scoped cluster.
    2. 02
      finaleConfigure the Longfin and drainage tunnel
      Action
      Select the Longfin, the approach point closest to the scoped loot, drainage-tunnel entry and suppressors. Exception: two office paintings let you skip outside loot and enter directly with the Kosatka.
      Tip
      Configure the Longfin, chosen dock and drainage tunnel as one approach plan.
      Risk / failure condition
      A mismatched vehicle or entry leaves the solo player on the wrong side of planned loot.
      How to recover the run
      Return to the finale screen and pair the Longfin with the actually scoped dock and tunnel.
    3. 03
      finaleFill the bag before the compound
      Action
      Sail to the chosen lock-up, cut the lock with the torch and collect the planned 100% bag. Do not circle the island for weaker stacks when one area already fills the bag.
      Tip
      Empty the chosen cluster to 100% bag capacity before sailing to the compound.
      Risk / failure condition
      Entering the compound with spare capacity leaves Solo unable to safely fill it with dual-keycard gold.
      How to recover the run
      Do not leave; return to the last scoped stack and fill the bag before the tunnel.
    4. 04
      finaleSail to the drainage tunnel
      Action
      Return to the Longfin, sail beneath the compound's south wall, jump out over the marker and cut all four grate points. Swim inside once it opens.
      Tip
      Sail the Longfin directly to the tunnel marker, dismount above the grate and use the Cutting Torch.
      Risk / failure condition
      A shallow approach or missing torch exposes the player near coastal patrols.
      How to recover the run
      Move the boat offshore, line up above the grate and dive only on the marker.
    5. 05
      finaleFollow the outer wall to the office
      Action
      After the tunnel, climb to the upper level and stay outside vision cones. Wait for the Juggernaut and patrols to turn; this route does not require keycards or storage rooms.
      Tip
      After entry follow the outer wall, avoid the courtyard and lead directly to El Rubio's office.
      Risk / failure condition
      A center shortcut crosses camera cones and patrols without adding needed loot.
      How to recover the run
      Return to the last corner, wait for the patrol and resume along the wall.
    6. 06
      finaleTake the safe and any planned painting
      Action
      Open the wall safe—its cash uses no bag space. Take a painting only if you deliberately left exactly 50% capacity, then solve the fingerprint hack.
      Tip
      In the office take the safe and only the planned painting if available and bag space allows.
      Risk / failure condition
      An unplanned painting can displace better loot or stall the route at an interaction.
      How to recover the run
      Stop the painting interaction, check bag fill and follow the preselected combination.
    7. 07
      finaleTake the primary target as the final loot
      Action
      Use the plasma cutter or safe codes, collect the target and return through the office to the main gate. The bag should already be full, so do not plan more lock-ups.
      Tip
      Enter the basement and take the primary target only after all secondary loot is complete.
      Risk / failure condition
      Leaving with the primary target and an unfilled bag forces a risky detour under patrol pressure.
      How to recover the run
      If the bag is not full, return to the planned safe point before triggering the compound exit.
    8. 08
      finaleBike, cliff and swim
      Action
      After the main gate, take the bike, turn left beyond the helipad and jump from the southwest cliff. Swim straight into open water until the finale completes.
      Tip
      After the gate take the bike, ride to the southwest cliff and swim directly away from the island.
      Risk / failure condition
      Following roads or returning to a dock increases patrol contact after taking the target.
      How to recover the run
      Leave the bike at the first safe cliff, dive and hold one heading into open water.

    Common mistakes

    Loot chosen without bag allocation

    Consequence
    The team can reach the primary target with unused capacity or a plan relying on gold that Solo cannot access.
    Correction
    Before the finale, match the combination to the selected team and actually scoped stacks; Solo plans outside dual-keycard storage.

    Improvised entry change

    Consequence
    Approach vehicle, loot order and tunnel stop forming one route, increasing detection and empty-bag risk.
    Correction
    Return to the agreed Longfin or Kosatka variant and restore its point order before entering the compound.

    Split compound escape

    Consequence
    Separated players attract patrols, lose the shared cliff point and can expose the primary-target carrier.
    Correction
    Regroup at the exit, assign one lead to the southwest cliff and enter the water in the same order.

    Pre-launch checklist

    • Meet Miguel Madrazo in The Music Locker, then buy the Kosatka from Warstock Cache & Carry.

    • Gather Intel confirms the primary target, drainage tunnel and loot for the whole selected team.

    • The approach vehicle matches the Longfin or Kosatka plan and loot-point order.

    • Safe Code/Plasma Cutter, Fingerprint Cloner, Cutting Torch and Weapon Loadout are complete.

    • Every player knows their storage, bag limit, keycard owner and shared escape point.

    • The plan does not depend on the calculator's weekly variant: story first run and replay are described separately.

    ROUTE PLAYBOOK • SOLO

    03

    Cayo Perico walkthrough — SOLO

    Active SOLO variant: preparations, roles, loot and the full route now follow the selected crew size.

    Updated for version 1.73 • 25 Aug 2026
    SOLO • 1P

    Fill the bag outside the compound first

    Gold behind dual-keycard doors is unavailable solo. The safest plan is two cocaine stacks in one area, followed by the drainage tunnel, office safe and primary target.

    Longfin → cocaine → tunnel → safe → target → cliff
    Role split • SOLO
    One player — every role

    The host handles intel, the Longfin, hacks, office safe, primary target and escape.

    01

    Preparations without wasted missions

    The approach vehicle changes with the variant; the remaining preparations are shared.

    01
    required

    Gather Intel

    Scope the drainage tunnel, primary target and the best loot cluster at the airstrip or main dock.

    02
    best for solo

    Approach vehicle

    Choose the Longfin to collect airstrip or dock loot before sailing to the tunnel. If two paintings spawned in the office, a direct Kosatka drainage-tunnel entry is a valid alternative.

    03
    required

    Equipment

    Cutting torch, fingerprint cloner and either the plasma cutter or safe codes, depending on the primary target.

    04
    recommended

    Weapons and suppressors

    Choose a familiar loadout such as Aggressor or Conspirator and add suppressors before launching the finale.

    05
    time saver

    What to skip

    Demolition charges are unnecessary with the cutting torch. Disruption missions can be skipped for a clean stealth run.

    02

    What to put in the bag

    Solo priority: cocaine, weed, a convenient office painting, then cash. Gold remains visible for comparison, but it cannot normally be collected alone.

    Cocaine

    Best solo choice; two stacks fill the bag.

    Priority SOLO
    1
    Stack value
    $178,200–$182,250
    Bag space
    50%
    Full bag
    approx. $356,400–$364,500
    Access
    Outside compound

    Weed

    Strong fallback; 2× weed + 1× cash = 100%.

    Priority SOLO
    2
    Stack value
    $117,450–$121,500
    Bag space
    37.5%
    Full bag
    approx. $313,200–$324,000
    Access
    Outside compound

    Cash

    Use it to top up the bag when stronger loot is unavailable.

    Priority SOLO
    4
    Stack value
    $70,875–$74,925
    Bag space
    25%
    Full bag
    approx. $283,500–$299,700
    Access
    Outside compound / office

    Gold

    Best secondary loot. About 1.5 stacks fill one bag.

    Priority SOLO
    —
    Stack value
    $295,500–$300,000
    Bag space
    66.7%
    Full bag
    approx. $443,250–$450,000
    Access
    Compound • 2 keycards

    Artwork

    Office artwork is stronger when it requires no extra detour.

    Priority SOLO
    3*
    Stack value
    $141,750–$162,000
    Bag space
    50%
    Full bag
    approx. $283,500–$324,000
    Access
    Office / compound
    100% bag combinations
    • 2× cocaine = 100% bag
    • 1× cocaine + 1× artwork = 100%
    • 2× weed + 1× cash = 100%
    • 2× artwork = 100%
    • 4× cash = 100%

    Secondary-loot bonus: On repeat runs, secondary loot receives a primary-target bonus: Tequila +20%, Ruby Necklace +10%, Bearer Bonds +5%, Pink Diamond +0%.

    03

    Safest Solo route

    Longfin → outside loot → drainage tunnel → office → primary target → southwest cliff.

    1. 01Intel

      Find one compact loot cluster

      Scope the primary target, drainage tunnel, airstrip and docks. Two cocaine stacks in one location are ideal; with one office painting, only plan 50% bag space outside the compound.

      Checkpoint: Do not route to loot that was not confirmed during intel.
    2. 02Plan

      Configure the Longfin and drainage tunnel

      Select the Longfin, the approach point closest to the scoped loot, drainage-tunnel entry and suppressors. Exception: two office paintings let you skip outside loot and enter directly with the Kosatka.

      Checkpoint: Demolition charges are unnecessary when you have the cutting torch.
    3. 03Island

      Fill the bag before the compound

      Sail to the chosen lock-up, cut the lock with the torch and collect the planned 100% bag. Do not circle the island for weaker stacks when one area already fills the bag.

      Checkpoint: Two cocaine stacks complete the solo bag.
    4. 04Entry

      Sail to the drainage tunnel

      Return to the Longfin, sail beneath the compound's south wall, jump out over the marker and cut all four grate points. Swim inside once it opens.

      Checkpoint: Equip a rebreather if you need more time underwater.
    5. 05Compound

      Follow the outer wall to the office

      After the tunnel, climb to the upper level and stay outside vision cones. Wait for the Juggernaut and patrols to turn; this route does not require keycards or storage rooms.

      Checkpoint: Bypass guards instead of leaving bodies for the new shift.
    6. 06Office

      Take the safe and any planned painting

      Open the wall safe—its cash uses no bag space. Take a painting only if you deliberately left exactly 50% capacity, then solve the fingerprint hack.

      Checkpoint: Each next fingerprint is offset by one segment.
    7. 07Target

      Take the primary target as the final loot

      Use the plasma cutter or safe codes, collect the target and return through the office to the main gate. The bag should already be full, so do not plan more lock-ups.

      Checkpoint: Pulse the plasma cutter in short bursts to avoid overheating.
    8. 08Escape

      Bike, cliff and swim

      After the main gate, take the bike, turn left beyond the helipad and jump from the southwest cliff. Swim straight into open water until the finale completes.

      Checkpoint: Do not drive to the marked escape point—the cliff is shorter.
    04

    Primary-target priority

    Values cover the primary target before secondary loot and deductions. Hard mode adds 10% to the primary target.

    EVENT

    Panther Statue

    Selected events only
    Normal
    $1,900,000
    Hard
    $2,090,000
    01

    Pink Diamond

    Best regular target
    Normal
    $910,000
    Hard
    $1,001,000
    02

    Bearer Bonds

    Requires safe codes
    Normal
    $616,000
    Hard
    $677,600
    03

    Ruby Necklace

    Plasma cutter
    Normal
    $560,000
    Hard
    $616,000
    04

    Sinsimito Tequila

    Lowest regular target
    Normal
    $400,000
    Hard
    $440,000
    START

    Madrazo Files

    First playthrough only
    Normal
    $1,100,000
    Hard
    —
    Weekly target states
    First weekly target stateTequila 0% • Necklace 40% • Bonds 40% • Diamond 20%
    Subsequent weekly target stateTequila 80% • Necklace 10% • Bonds 8% • Diamond 2%

    Rockstar confirms the weekly refresh but not the exact trigger that consumes the favourable state. Percentages are community-maintained observations; the first-ever Madrazo Files run and event-only Panther Statue are outside this table.

    ELITE

    Elite Challenge

    $50,000 on Normal • $100,000 on Hard
    • Complete the finale in under 15:00.
    • Fill every player's loot bag to 100%.
    • Do not fail a fingerprint hack.
    • Do not get detected before leaving the compound and do not get wasted.
    • Do not use Quick Restart—it removes the Elite bonus.
    WATCHLIST

    Common run killers

    Looking for gold solo

    Two cards and simultaneous readers require a second player. Solo, plan outside loot and paintings that spawned directly in the office.

    Killing every guard

    Patrols and cameras can spot bodies. The safest route bypasses guards instead of eliminating them.

    Looting after the compound

    A long detour after the primary target often loses Elite. The Longfin lets you fill the bag before the tunnel.

    Skipping the office safe

    The safe pays roughly $18,000–99,000 and uses no bag capacity, so it is always worth opening.

    04

    Expanded informational overview

    Guide scopeThis section explains the complete-cycle model and complements the exact Solo/Duo walkthrough, loot table and escape route above.

    Activity formatMulti-stage heist for 1–4 players
    Payout modelThe post-fee pool uses manually adjustable cuts. Rankings use the preset where the host takes the maximum and every partner gets 15%; only the host pays the setup cost.
    What changes the result most

    Primary target, secondary loot, available bags, difficulty, setup fee and team composition. Cooldown is 2 hrs 24 min solo or 48 min with a team.

    05

    How the full cycle works

    The complete financial cycle complements the exact walkthrough above, from intel and preparations through loot, compound and escape.

    01

    Unlock

    Base requirement: Kosatka. Minimum entry cost is kept separate from the setup fee.

    02

    Plan configuration

    Available approach, target, difficulty and team choices determine later costs and payout distribution.

    03

    Preparations

    The model's full time includes required preparation; optional items trade extra time for a safer run.

    04

    Finale

    The result depends on target or pool value, participant count, possible losses and bonus conditions.

    05

    Settlement and replay

    After deductions, the pool is distributed using the payout model. 2 hrs 24 min after a solo finale; 48 min after a group finale.

    06

    What affects the result

    Target value

    The min–typical–max range accounts for a variable target, loot or difficulty where applicable.

    Setup cost

    The setup fee is deducted before the net result is calculated.

    Cuts and NPC crew

    Player count and NPC crew fees can change the host and each partner's payout.

    Complete cycle time

    The model compares 48 min / 1 hr 10 min / 1 hr 50 min, not the finale alone.

    Main strengths

    • High payout per completed cycle.
    • Clear split between preparation, finale and settlement.

    Constraints

    • Entry and setup costs reduce the first return.
    • The result depends on team size, cuts and cooldown.
    07

    Solo / Duo / Trio / Quatro variants

    Every supported team size shows its host, partner and team model; unofficial figures carry a clear source label, while lower-confidence payouts stay outside calculators.

    SOLO1P

    Solo: full pace control and no crew wait.

    Host / owner
    $780,000
    Team net
    $780,000
    Cooldown
    2 hrs 24 min
    DUO2P

    Duo: the default ranking model is 85% for the host and 15% for every partner; the guide lets you set individual cuts, while the setup cost is deducted only from the host.

    Host / owner
    $1,190,300
    Each partner
    $227,700
    Team net
    $1,418,000
    Cooldown
    48 min
    TRIO3P

    Trio: the default ranking model is 70% for the host and 15% for every partner; the guide lets you set individual cuts, while the setup cost is deducted only from the host.

    Host / owner
    $1,286,000
    Each partner
    $297,000
    Team net
    $1,880,000
    Cooldown
    48 min
    QUATRO4P

    Quatro: the default ranking model is 55% for the host and 15% for every partner; the guide lets you set individual cuts, while the setup cost is deducted only from the host.

    Host / owner
    $1,194,700
    Each partner
    $353,100
    Team net
    $2,254,000
    Cooldown
    48 min
    08

    Complete figures by team

    Typical values for the selected cycle; every cell also contains a min–max range.

    TeamCooldownTeam grossCosts + feesHost / ownerEach partnerTeam netHost / owner $/hTeam $/h
    SOLO2 hrs 24 minCooldown$1,000,000min: $800,000 · typical: $1,000,000 · max: $1,200,000$220,000min: $196,000 · typical: $220,000 · max: $244,000$780,000min: $556,000 · typical: $780,000 · max: $1,004,000—$780,000min: $556,000 · typical: $780,000 · max: $1,004,000$668,571min: $476,571 · typical: $668,571 · max: $860,571$668,571min: $476,571 · typical: $668,571 · max: $860,571
    DUO48 minCooldown$1,725,000min: $1,400,000 · typical: $1,725,000 · max: $2,050,000$307,000min: $268,000 · typical: $307,000 · max: $346,000$1,190,300min: $880,900 · typical: $1,190,300 · max: $1,499,700$227,700min: $173,100 · typical: $227,700 · max: $282,300$1,418,000min: $1,054,000 · typical: $1,418,000 · max: $1,782,000$1,020,257min: $755,057 · typical: $1,020,257 · max: $1,285,457$1,215,429min: $903,429 · typical: $1,215,429 · max: $1,527,429
    TRIO48 minCooldown$2,250,000min: $1,850,000 · typical: $2,250,000 · max: $2,650,000$370,000min: $322,000 · typical: $370,000 · max: $418,000$1,286,000min: $972,400 · typical: $1,286,000 · max: $1,599,600$297,000min: $229,800 · typical: $297,000 · max: $364,200$1,880,000min: $1,432,000 · typical: $1,880,000 · max: $2,328,000$1,102,286min: $833,486 · typical: $1,102,286 · max: $1,371,086$1,611,429min: $1,227,429 · typical: $1,611,429 · max: $1,995,429
    QUATRO48 minCooldown$2,675,000min: $2,250,000 · typical: $2,675,000 · max: $3,100,000$421,000min: $370,000 · typical: $421,000 · max: $472,000$1,194,700min: $932,900 · typical: $1,194,700 · max: $1,456,500$353,100min: $281,700 · typical: $353,100 · max: $424,500$2,254,000min: $1,778,000 · typical: $2,254,000 · max: $2,730,000$1,024,029min: $799,629 · typical: $1,024,029 · max: $1,248,429$1,932,000min: $1,524,000 · typical: $1,932,000 · max: $2,340,000

    CALCULATOR

    Custom scenario calculator

    Enter your own pool, costs and fees, then set every player's cut.

    Team net$780,000
    Host / owner$780,000
    Host $/h$668,571
    Team $/h$668,571
    Cooldown2 hrs 24 min
    09

    Key facts

    First playthroughMadrazo Files: $1,100,000
    Best secondary lootGold: approx. $443,250–450,000 / bag
    Approach vehicles6 variants
    VIDEO

    Video walkthrough

    Verified video · EN

    Start-to-Finish Cayo Perico Heist Guide For Beginners (GTA 5 Online Updated 2026)

    Intel, setups, approach, compound, targets, escape and first completion.

    Channel
    Hazard
    Published
    22 Aug 2026
    Checked
    29 Aug 2026
    Open the walkthrough on YouTube ↗