This is our step-by-step guide focused on completing the Cayo Perico Heist finale solo, on hard mode, and achieving the Elite Challenge for maximum payout. You can get the Cayo Perico heist's hard mode if you set up the heist within 48 minutes (real-time) of Pavel sending you a message to start the heist again (after completing it once before).
If you wait for more than 48 minutes, the heist difficulty will switch to normal. The value of the primary target is increased by 10% in Hard Mode. If you complete the elite challenge, the reward is GTA$100,000 instead of the standard GTA$50,000. The primary targets change every time you do the heist after your first ever Cayo Perico heist, where you are tasked to retrieve the Madrazo Files. During our playthrough of the heist, that we did in order to create this guide, the primary target turned out to be the Sinsimito Tequila worth GTA$693,000.
While the Cayo Perico heist is a go-to method for solo players to make millions, it was nerfed as a money making method after the GTA Online: Criminal Enterprise update in July 2022. Rockstar adjusted the cooldown time and primary target probabilities when you are doing a solo playthrough of the heist.
With the aforementioned nerf, solo players must wait for 3 in-game days before they can do another heist. In addition, if a solo player gets a high-value primary target in one heist, they will have a lower chance of getting a high-value primary target again for the next 72 hours (real-world time).
On September 28, 2023, Rockstar Games also implemented some additional nerfs to the Cayo Perico heist, resulting in a substantial 30% reduction in payouts. In addition, the setup cost skyrocketed from $25K to $100K.
These aforementioned changes have all been reflected in the 'Primary Target' payout section immediately below and in more detail in our complete Cayo Perico Payouts Guide.
Primary Targets
There are five different primary targets you can get in the Cayo Perico Heist, each holding a different value. The primary targets and their values are as follows:
Mission Accomplished?
Don't let the trail go cold. Get the biggest GTA 6 & Online headlines, plus exclusive guides, delivered to your inbox weekly.
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.
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.
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.
Get smarter GTA guides each week
We’ll send one email with fresh guides, walkthroughs, and time-saving tips.
One email per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Make your way to the elevator in the room and start the fingerprint cloning process. The fingerprint clone hacking process isn't just a matching process, but I realized it has a fixed pattern every time. The trick I learned is to change all the components to match the clone target's top component first.
Then, starting from the top, change the component position to the right with an increasing increment of one for each component as you go down. You don't even have to look at the rest of the fingerprint patterns on the clone target.
The above image shows the number of times you need to turn right on each pattern once you are on the topmost pattern. 0 means you won't turn right at all, and 1 means you turn to the right once, and so on. Do the same with all of the patterns, and you will be able to do them quickly. When you are left with one component, scroll through quickly, and it will start processing as soon as you land on the correct one.
When you reach the underground vault, cut open the lock using your cutting torch and use the plasma cutter to cut the glass exhibit holding the primary target (if applicable) or use the Safe Code on the safe. In our case, it was the Sinsimito Tequila in the safe.
After looting the primary target, make your way back to the elevator and the office. Go back downstairs and turn right.
Exiting the Compound (With Gate Keys)
At the end of the walkway, if you have the gate keys, turn left towards the archway and take out the guard standing by the locked gate. This guard is always patrolling this general area and might not always be in this specific spot, but, he eventually comes here. You will also find another guard just outside the locked gate. Take him out as well.
After eliminating both these guards, unlock the door and go through it. You will find one more guard in front of the main compound gate. Take him out and exit via the main gate. When you reach the main gate, a short cutscene of you opening the gate and escaping the compound will play.
Exiting the Compound (Without Gate Keys)
In case you do not find any gate keys, do not worry. Instead of turning left towards the locked gate after coming down from the office, jump over the railing to your right and go up the stairs to reach the same main gate exit point.
Escaping the Island (Main Dock Route)
Once you're outside the compound, run toward the main exit and you will find a single guard standing by a bike. Take him out, get the bike, and continue to ride towards the main exit. You will find another single guard just before two more guards ahead of him. Take this guard out as well.
Take out the other two guards, that were ahead of the previous one, and continue to ride towards the exit. You will find a security camera at the main exit point. Shoot it using your pistol and ride away.
Continue to ride on the main dirt road until you see a metal barrier to your right. As soon as you see it, get off the dirt road and turn right off-road, into the grassy mountain. Continue to ride off-road until you reach the main docks.
When you reach the main docks, go to the big shed to the left. Before proceeding, take out the guard standing by it. There is also a security camera above it, but you won't have a problem if you stick close to the camera.
Get inside the shed, unlock the doors using your cutting torch and loot both the tables (whether it's for cash or drugs). Fill your loot bag completely.
When you get out of the shed after looting the secondary targets, make your way to the right side of the docks. As you're making your way there, you might run into another guard who will instantly detect you. So be ready to take him out as quickly as you can or else he will shoot at you and alert the rest of the guards around you.
Take him out and continue to make your way to the second locked gate with the secondary targets if your bag isn't full yet. Remember, we need to fill our loot bag for the completion of the elite challenge. There will be another guard standing on the left side of the gate. Take him out as well.
Open the locked gate and aim for the drugs first, as they hold more value, and will fill your loot bag quicker. Your bag will probably be filled before you can clean up these tables.
Now make your way to the boat at the main docks for your escape. There will be two guards standing on the right side of the boat. Line up your aim and take them both out by aiming at their heads. After taking them out, get into your boat.
There is another guard to your left. Take him out as well, and then drive your boat towards the open ocean.
As you're exiting the main docks, you will find another guard standing by the crane. Take him out as well, and then make your way to the open ocean. Avoid the patrolling boats and keep driving away from the docks until the heist completion cutscene plays.
If you're interested in completing the Elite Challenge with the same level of preparation as a solo player, but using a much faster and "meta" route, check out our 'meta speedrun route' Cayo Perico finale guide.
GTA Online Is Free To Play Right Now For All PlayStation Owners
