Cayo Perico Heist Finale: Solo Elite Challenge Hard Mode Walkthrough

Something important to note is that once the heist is over, there are two additional fees — fencing fees (10% of the primary and secondary take combined) and Pavel's cut (2% of the primary and secondary take combined). These are detailed further in our Payouts Guide.

Changing Primary Target

You can change your primary target by canceling the current heist and setting up a new one. To do it, first call Pavel when you are not inside your Kosatka submarine. Once canceled, wait for Pavel's call asking you to set up a new Cayo Perico heist, and then head to your submarine to do so. Note that if you had Hard Mode active, it will be gone, and starting a new heist will revert the difficulty to Normal. You don't have to worry about the setup cost, though, as the cost is refunded once you cancel the heist.

Heist Prep (Recommended for this Approach)

You do not have to complete all the prep missions. You just need to complete the prep missions necessary for this approach, which is stealth/sneaky, along with the mandatory prep missions, of course. We have a complete list of the prep missions, if you need it.

For this guide though, we already include everything you need for the completion of the heist finale.

Vehicle Approaches

You need to complete the Submarine Kosatka prep mission for the vehicle approach, a mandatory prep mission.

Equipment

When it comes to equipment, two of the equipment prep missions are always going to be mandatory — Fingerprint Cloner and either Plasma Cutter or the Safe Codes (changes depending on what your primary target is). These must be completed.

Then you're left with a choice to either do Demolition Charges or Cutting Torch.

It is best to go with the Cutting Torch as not only does it have easier prep missions, but it is also much faster and silent when it comes to cutting the locks, especially the Drainage Tunnel grate.

Weapons Loadout

We recommend the Crack Shot loadout. It's the best for sneaking in and out. It has an AP Pistol and a Sniper Rifle.

The AP Pistol is a mini-SMG in the form of a pistol. It is a reliable weapon not just in this heist but in GTA Online in general. Plus, you also get a Sniper Rifle that will allow you to take down enemies at range, especially the ones patrolling in Sniper towers (if needed).

The most important thing you need to buy in the weapons loadout is the suppressors for your weapons. This will suppress your shots when eliminating guards. The suppressors cost GTA$5,000.

That is everything you need to do for this heist finale approach. You can skip the disruption missions and other optional missions if you plan to remain undetected.

Secondary Targets

To make sure you fill your loot bag fully (required for the Elite Challenge), you need to scope out some secondary targets.

For a solo player aiming for speed and efficiency, scoping targets at the Main Dock is recommended as it will be your escape point. You need to scope out just two locations at the main docks: the big shed and the small locked room to the main dock's right.

• The Shed
• Locked Room

Finale Setup Screen

If you've done the recommended prep missions above, you should be able to choose the following during your heist finale screen:

• Approach Vehicle: Kosatka
• Infiltration Point: Drainage Tunnel
• Compound Entry Point: Drainage Tunnel
• Escape Point: Main Dock
• Time Of Day: Night
• Weapons Loadout: Crack Shot (or preferred) and Suppressors (Purchased)

The approach vehicle is acquired by doing the Submarine Kosatka prep mission. The infiltration point, compound entry point, and escape point are unlocked by scoping out certain locations on the island. If you do not see the drainage tunnel and the main dock as your infiltration point/compound entry point and escape points, respectively, then chances are you haven't scoped out the locations.

The drainage tunnel is underwater behind El Rubio's compound. You need to swim to the location shown in the map below to scope out the drainage tunnel successfully.

For the main dock escape point, you need to take a picture of the main dock and send it to Pavel.

You can find all the scope out locations on our dedicated guide here.

The Heist Finale Walkthrough (Solo Stealth Route)

When you start the heist, you will be underwater with a diving suit. You need to swim to the drainage tunnel and cut open the grate using your cutting torch to enter the main compound. Be careful of the underwater mines.

When you go through to the end of the drainage tunnel, a short cutscene of you entering the compound will play. Once the cutscene ends, go right and keep going straight and up the stairs until you reach the two guards standing at the end of the walkway.

Take out both the guards silently and remember to aim for the head. The guards always take a second to react, so you will have plenty of time to take both of them out without alerting either one of them. Continue moving forward, and once you pass through the archway, go through the grass patio and jump over the small wall.

You will see a guard right in front of you. Make sure you take him out and remember NOT to kill him when he is in the cone of vision of one of the cameras in this area. This guard will be patrolling this area back and forth so he can be anywhere in this area. Keep an eye out for him.

One of the guards might drop the gate keys. The drop is completely random, but there is a high chance for one of the eliminated guards to drop the key. The guard that we just killed (in the images above) drops the gate keys. If they do, take the keys as they will help later on to make your escape more convenient. Even if you don't get the keys, don't worry though, you can still escape!

Do not continue moving forward towards the archway straight ahead of you. Instead, take a left and go up the stairs. Before going up, aim at the guard standing right above you and take him out.

After killing the guard, make your way up the stairs and then another set of stairs leading up to El Rubio's main office. On your way up, there will be another guard coming down the stairs. You can quickly take him out by meleeing him.

When you enter the office, get the elevator keycard off the table and approach the wall with the pictures to the left of the fireplace. You will get a prompt to open up the secret safe here. It contains some extra cash (added to the total take), a medkit, and a pistol. If you get paintings as secondary targets inside the office during your scope out, then make sure you loot them as well.