The Cayo Perico Heist solo in GTA Online: the Kosatka, scouting, choosing an approach, required preps, what to put in your bag, primary target payouts after the July 2026 changes and the cooldown between runs.
Cayo Perico solo: is it still worth it in 2026
The Cayo Perico Heist solo has been the most popular way to make money alone since December 2020. In July 2026, together with The Kortz Center Heist, payouts went down: according to players, the Pink Diamond dropped from 1.3M to 910K GTA$, and secondary targets lost about a tenth of their value. Still, Cayo needs no crew, and an experienced player clears a full run without scouting in 15–20 minutes.
The figures below come from GTABase, GTA Boss, GTA Boom and Timesaver guides after title update TU 1.73. Rockstar does not publish official tables, so in-game amounts may differ slightly. An overview of every heist is on the page GTA Online heists.
What you need to start
- Kosatka: GTA$2,200,000 on the Warstock Cache & Carry website. The cheapest configuration is fine: missiles and sonar are not needed for the heist.
- The first setup is free; after that it costs GTA$100,000, paid on the planning screen aboard the Kosatka.
- Crew members don't need their own Kosatka: only the host does.
A new character can buy the Kosatka with the starting money: if you took a cheap location in Career Builder, the remaining GTA$1 million plus your first earnings will cover it. The buying order is in our beginner guide.
Step 1. Gather Intel
The first run starts with a scouting mission: Pavel sends you to the island to photograph the primary target in El Rubio's compound and mark the entry and exit points. What to do during the scope out:
- Photograph the primary target: the mission won't end without it.
- Mark the secondary targets: cocaine stacks, paintings, weed, cash. They sit in fixed spots, but in a different order each time.
- Find the infiltration points: the drainage tunnel, the main gate, the compound walls.
- Mark the escape points, including the main dock (a photo for Pavel).
Don't trigger the alarm and don't hang around on the island: as soon as everything is marked, head back to the Kosatka.
Step 2. Approach and preps
| Approach vehicle | What you need | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Kosatka | Kosatka prep | the standard solo option: you land from the sea |
| Velum 5-Seater | Velum prep | an air drop, often used with a weapon stash |
| Annihilator Stealth | prep with a pilot + drop zone found while scouting | a stealth helicopter |
| RO-86 Alkonost | prep with a pilot | a bomber plane |
| Kurtz 31 Patrol Boat / Longfin | separate preps | a sea approach; the Longfin is a fast boat |
The required preps are the approach vehicle and the weapon loadout. Optional ones, such as the Cutting Torch (to cut the drainage tunnel grate) or explosives, depend on your route. Support crew (sniper, helicopter backup, supply drop) costs GTA$12,000 to 30,000 and only works after you disable the air defenses.
Time of day: night. Visibility is worse, and the stealth route is easier.
Step 3. The finale: a step-by-step solo route
The solo route most guides recommend:
- Kosatka approach, entry through the drainage tunnel (Cutting Torch required): the water takes you right under the compound.
- Move quietly to El Rubio's office and grab the primary target. On the way, open the office safe: GTA$18K–99K, and it takes no bag space.
- Fill your bag with secondary targets inside and around the compound.
- Leave through the main gate or toward the water, then head to the escape point you picked.
The Elite Challenge adds GTA$50,000 (100,000 on Hard) if you finish the finale in under 15 minutes, with no failed hacks, a full bag, no deaths and no alarm inside the compound.
Hard Mode (+10% on the primary target) kicks in if you start a new run within about 48 minutes of Pavel's call.
Payouts: primary targets after the 2026 changes
| Primary target | Normal, GTA$ | Hard, GTA$ |
|---|---|---|
| Sinsimito Tequila | 400,000 | 440,000 |
| Ruby Necklace | 560,000 | 616,000 |
| Bearer Bonds | 616,000 | 677,600 |
| Pink Diamond | 910,000 | 1,001,000 |
| Madrazo Files (first run only) | 1,100,000 | — |
| Panther Statue | events only | — |
According to GTA Boss and GTABase, repeat runs before the Thursday reset most often roll the cheapest target, the tequila. That's why 1–2 runs a week, alternating Cayo with other heists, pay better.
Secondary targets: what to put in your bag
| Loot | Per stack, GTA$ | Bag space |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 295,500–300,000 | 66.7% |
| Cocaine | 178,200–182,250 | 50% |
| Paintings | 141,750–162,000 | 50% |
| Weed | 117,450–121,500 | 37.5% |
| Cash | 70,875–74,925 | 25% |
One player's bag holds 100%. The gold in the compound sits behind a door that needs two keycards swiped at the same time, so the best solo option is 2 stacks of cocaine (about 360K). If there's no cocaine, take paintings or weed. Values are from GTABase and Timesaver (citing GTA Boom's tests) after the July 2026 update.
Example solo run: Pink Diamond 910,000 + 2 cocaine stacks ≈360,000 + safe ≈50,000 ≈ 1.32M; minus 12% in fees to Pavel and the fence, about 1.16M GTA$. With the tequila, the same run pays about 715K. This is our own calculation based on guide figures.
The cooldown between runs and how to use it
After a solo finale, the next setup unlocks in about 144 minutes of real time (three in-game days); after a crew finale, in about 48 minutes. Rockstar does not publish these numbers officially; they come from guides.
Fill the cooldown with heists that have a weekly bonus: the Dr. Dre Contract, The Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid, The Titan Job, The Kortz Center Heist. They pay more for the first completion after Thursday. The order is in our guide how to make money in GTA Online, and businesses that run in the background are in best solo businesses.
Glitches for replaying the finale or an "infinite" bag break Rockstar's rules and can end with your money wiped or a ban, so we don't publish them.
Cayo Perico solo FAQ
How much does Cayo Perico pay solo in 2026?
The primary target pays from 400K (tequila) to 910K GTA$ (Pink Diamond) on Normal, plus about 360K in secondary targets and the safe. After the 12% fees, a good run brings in about 0.7–1.2M.
How do I do Cayo Perico solo fast?
Kosatka approach, entry through the drainage tunnel (Cutting Torch required), night time, cocaine in the bag. Experienced players clear repeat runs without scouting in 15–20 minutes.
Can I take gold on Cayo Perico solo?
Not in the compound: the vault door needs two keycards swiped at the same time. Solo, cocaine is the best choice.
How long is the Cayo Perico cooldown?
According to guides, about 144 minutes after a solo finale and 48 minutes after a crew finale.
What do I need to start Cayo Perico?
The Kosatka submarine (GTA$2.2M) from Warstock Cache & Carry. The first setup is free; after that it costs GTA$100,000.
Is there a weekly bonus for Cayo Perico?
No. Since July 2026 the first-completion bonus after Thursday applies to other heists, and Cayo Perico is not on that list.
Sources
- Official: Rockstar Games, Rockstar Newswire, Rockstar Support, Take-Two Interactive
- Databases and guides: GTABase, GTA Wiki, GTA BOOM, PowerPyx
- Press: GamesRadar, PC Gamer, IGN, VGC, Game Informer
Every fact is checked against official sources or at least two independent ones; player-sourced data is labelled in the text. Images are official Rockstar Games material. GTA Top is not affiliated with Rockstar Games or Take-Two Interactive.