Cayo Perico

Cayo Perico is El Rubio's private tropical island in GTA Online. Added on December 15, 2020, it is the setting for the Cayo Perico Heist and later activities including races, Assault on Cayo Perico and the seasonal Cayo Perico Survival.¹

Unlike Los Santos and Blaine County, Cayo Perico is not a normal freemode region. Players visit it through heist scouting and the finale, the beach party unlocked after completing the heist as leader, and activities that use the island as their map.²

Cayo Perico map

The island's roads connect the airstrip with the North Dock, Main Dock, communications tower, beach party and the security checkpoint outside El Rubio's compound. The complete scope-out map and locations guide identifies infiltration points, escape points, compound entrances and equipment used during the heist.

Main locations

Airstrip

The airstrip occupies the island's northwestern end. It is the arrival point during Gather Intel and contains a hangar and nearby buildings that can hold secondary loot. The control tower can disable Cayo Perico's air defenses during the finale.

North Dock and Main Dock

Both docks can serve as infiltration or escape points. Their storage buildings may contain cash, weed or cocaine, making them useful stops when the available loot matches the chosen route. The secondary targets guide shows every possible storage location.

Communications tower

The communications tower is the main objective during Gather Intel. Hacking its signal box gives access to the camera network used to identify the primary target and compound loot.

El Rubio's compound

The fortified compound at the southern end of the island contains the primary target, El Rubio's office and several possible secondary-loot rooms. Entry options include the main gate, side gates, walls and the drainage tunnel, depending on the intel and equipment available for that run.

Beach party

The beach party is used during the first visit to Cayo Perico. After completing the heist as leader, players can return through VIP Jet Charters at Los Santos International Airport and invite other players from the session.²

How to visit Cayo Perico

The main route is the Cayo Perico Heist. Gather Intel provides the broadest opportunity to move around the island, mark access points and locate equipment. The finale then uses the approach, infiltration and escape options selected by the host.

Completing the heist as leader unlocks return visits to the beach party. Cayo Perico also appears in the ten land, sea and air races of the Cayo Perico Series, the attackers-versus-defenders Assault on Cayo Perico mode, and the seasonal undead Cayo Perico Survival.^{3 4 5}

Collectibles and other points of interest

Two treasure chests can appear each day while scoping Cayo Perico: one on land and one underwater. Their possible spawn points are listed in the Cayo Perico Treasure Chests locations guide.

Buried stashes can also appear during Gather Intel after the player finds a metal detector and map in Los Santos. These activities use the island's beaches and surrounding water without changing Cayo Perico into a permanent freemode map.³

Setting

Cayo Perico is a heavily guarded private island controlled by drug trafficker Juan "El Rubio" Strickler. Its airstrip, docks, production areas, solar farm, communications tower and fortified compound support his operation, while the beach party provides a public-facing destination for invited guests.

Rockstar has not identified a specific real-world island as the official model for Cayo Perico.