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This GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide will help you understand how the most popular heist from the multiplayer version of the game works and how you can make the best out of it. Rockstar Games released the Grand Theft Auto Online: The Cayo Perico Heist DLC update in December 2020, and it is still regarded as one of the biggest updates in the multiplayer title. The gameplay is diverse and offers various options to loot Juan Strickler (popularly known as El Rubio) and his island of Cayo Perico.
That said, players must follow certain rules to reap the full benefits of the mission. The island of Cayo Perico is not available for free roam, and you can go there only on two occasions during the mission. Therefore, the GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide provides a brief analogy of how players should approach the mission.
Note: Some parts of this article are subjective and only reflect the writer’s opinions.
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GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: Understanding the basics
The GTA Online Cayo Perico heist is a locked mission that you must unlock by investing a huge amount of money. However, you should not worry as it is one of the best money-making methods in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online.
First, you have to visit The Music Locker underground nightclub beside The Diamond Casino & Resorts. There, you will have to meet Miguel Madrazo, son of Martin Madrazo and Patricia Madrazo. He will request you for help with some “family business" and ask you to buy the RUNE Kosatka submarine.
The following are the steps to acquire the RUNE Kosatka for the GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide:
- Open the in-game internet browser.
- The Warstock Cache & Carry website icon should appear on the eyefind.info homepage. If not, click on the Travel and Transport tab and look for the said website.
- The RUNE Kosatka submarine should appear on top of the Warstock Cache & Carry homepage.
- Customize the vehicle as per your liking and click on the buy button.
The base price of the is RUNE Kosatka $2,200,000. It can cost more depending on the customizations and upgrades you select.
Once purchased, you have to visit the RUNE Kosatka submarine and go through Pavel’s introductory speech. He will introduce you to the Heist Planning Table from where you can start the mission with the help of the GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide.
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GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: The targets/loots
Rockstar Games offers multiple targets or loots for the Cayo Perico Heist in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online. They are divided into two categories: Primary and Secondary. GTA Online Cayo Perico heist guide readers should note that Primary targets are the main goal of initiating the heist. You cannot complete the mission without collecting them. The Secondary targets are there just to increase the income output during the finale.
The following are all the Primary and Secondary targets in the GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist and their values:
Primary targets:
- Madrazo Files: $1,100,000
- Sinsimito Tequila: $630,000
- Ruby Necklace: $700,000
- Bearer Bonds: $770,000
- Pink Diamond: $1,300,000
- Panther Statue: $1,900,000
Secondary Targets:
- Cash: Between $78,750 and $83,250
- Artwork: Between $157,500 and $180,000
- Weed: Between $130,500 and $135,000
- Cocaine: Between $198,000 and $202,500
- Gold: Between $328,584 and $333,192
The GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide readers should note that the Madrazo Files target only spawns the first time you do the mission. Moreover, the secondary targets can have multiple units on the map.
GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: Gathering intel
Considering you are playing the mission for the first time, you will have to visit the Los Santos International Airport to meet English Dave and the Keinemusik group. After a long cutscene, you’ll land at the Island of Cayo Perico to attend El Rubio’s beach party.
While you can stay at the beach party and enjoy the vibe, your main goal is to reach the Communications Tower by escaping through the South Gate. Once you are out of the South Gate, you will no longer be a guest and will be treated as an intruder.
The island of Cayo Perico is heavily guarded by El Rubio’s bodyguards. There is no hard and fast rule on how to get to the Communications Tower. The GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide strongly advises you to stay out of the vision cones of El Rubio’s guards, or else they will drag you back to the beach party.
Once you open the signal box in the Communications Tower, you will get access to the CCTV cameras inside El Rubio’s compound. Thoroughly examine each shot and location until you find the Basement. If you are doing it for the first time, the target (Madrazo Files) will be inside the vault. Otherwise, any of the other Primary targets can appear inside the glass box or the vault. After that, scan through the cameras again to find some of the Secondary targets and entry and exit points.
Next, you will have to scope the North Dock. Take the same stealthy approach. Send a good photo of the North Dock to Pavel to mark it as an entry point. The area also has several huts where you can find any of the aforementioned Secondary targets. Search the Weed farm and the Airport area thoroughly to find more Secondary targets.
Upon reaching the Airport, Pavel will ask you to photograph the Control Tower. After that, you can return to Los Santos by approaching the pilot at the Airport.
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GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: Additional details about gathering intel
During the intel-gathering process, you may come across various Infiltration, Escape, and Compound Entry Points. While the locations are fixed, their prompt depends on whether or not you are close to them.
GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide mentions all the locations for your convenience:
Infiltration Points:
- West Beach
- North Dock
- Main Dock
- HALO Jump
- Airstrip
- North Drop Zone
- South Drop Zone
- Drainage Tunnel
Compound Entry Points:
- Main Gate
- Drainage Tunnel
Escape Points:
- Airstrip
- North Dock
- Main Dock
- Kosatka
Players are advised to scope the underwater Drainage Tunnel behind El Rubio’s compound as it is one of the easiest entry points to reach the Basement.
GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: Finalizing the preparations
Once you’re done gathering all the intel, you need to go back to the RUNE Kosatka and finalize a few things. There are four parameters to finalize and each one has various options. The GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide mentions them all for you to analyze:
Approach Vehicle:
- Kosatka
- Alkonost
- Velum
- Stealth helicopter
- Patrol Boat
- Longfin
Equipment:
- Safe Code
- Plasma Cutter
- Fingerprint Cloner
- Cutting Torch
- Demolition Charges
Weapon Loadout:
- Unmarked Weapons
Disruption:
- Disrupt Weapons
- Disrupt Armor
- Disrupt Air Support
Choose the options you prefer to use during the final mission.
GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: The final showdown
The GTA Online Cayo Perico Heist can make you a millionaire in Grand Theft Auto 5 Online if you do all things right. Since this is your first playthrough, you should not worry about the Elite Challenge, hard mode bonuses, or even the Secondary targets. GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide readers are advised to take a simple and easy approach so that they can experience the gameplay and complete it on the first try.
Choose the following options to reach as close to the target:
- Infiltration Point: Drainage Tunnel
- Compound Entry Point: Drainage Tunnel
- Approach Vehicle: Kosatka
You will make it to the back of El Rubio’s compound. From there, the Basement will be marked on the minimap and you will have to reach there. Take a stealthy approach as the compound also has guards, including Juggernauts.
Once you reach the Basement door, you must pass through three locked gates to get to the vault. Once you reach the vault, Pavel will text you the code to unlock it. Steal the Madrazo Files and make it safely out of the compound through the Main Gate.
From there, you have two choices as per the GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: You can either escape the island with the Primary Target, or you can hunt for the Secondary targets to increase the final payout. If you choose the latter, then you will have to spend more time on the island stealing the products, while also hiding from El Rubio’s guard.
After a brief moment, El Rubio will automatically get alerted and will look for you using a helicopter. Fortunately, he does not know about your location yet. Remain out of guards' vision all the time as altering them can attract high resistance from El Rubio. You should also note that you cannot loot all the Secondary items solo. Therefore, plan your approach accordingly.
Once done, head to the escape point you have chosen during the heist preparation and escape the island. If you cannot make it to the destination, you can simply jump into the water and swim away from the island. However, stay away from the underwater mines or you’ll die instantly.
Once escaped, the mission will play its concluding cutscene where you will be handing over the files to Miguel Madrazo.
GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: How much money can you make from the mission?
Players should note that while the GTA Online Cayo Perico heist is one of the best ways to make a lot of money in GTA 5 Online, determining its final payout beforehand is very difficult. However, theoretically, you can earn anywhere between $630,000 and $7.1 million from one run. The amount depends on the primary target and the secondary loot. Using more players during the final mission also increases your payout cut.
GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: Can you play the mission solo?
Yes, the GTA Online Cayo Perico heist is the only major heist mission that you can play solo. The entire process of scoping, prep missions, and the finale can be done without any other player.
That said, taking experienced players with you is a smart move for the following two reasons:
- You can loot more Secondary targets from the island during the finale.
- They can help you in navigating the map.
If you complete the heist with three other players, you can theoretically earn around $2.3 million in a single run.
GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide: How many times can you repeat the mission?
While you can repeat the Cayo Perico heist countless times in GTA 5 Online, Rockstar Games has imposed the following cooldown times:
- Solo players must wait 144 real-life minutes to restart the gameplay
- Team players must wait 48 real-life minutes to restart the gameplay
Keep in mind that these cooldown times are only applicable to those who have completed the entire heist.
Lastly, the Cayo Perico heist continues to lure players into the decade-old game, and the GTA 5 Online Cayo Perico heist guide tries to give a brief overview of every important detail that players should know.
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