Cayo Perico Solo in 2026: What It Still Pays and How to Repeat It
Yes, you can still do Cayo Perico entirely alone, but it pays a lot less since Update 1.73 on July 14, 2026. A realistic solo run now nets around 700,000 GTA$ with the Tequila and 1.2 million with a Pink Diamond on Hard Mode, with a 144-minute cooldown between Finales. It is still a good side income if you already own the Kosatka. It is no longer a priority purchase.
What changed for Cayo Perico in July 2026?
The Update 1.73 patch notes, as reported by GTABase, list two changes. First, primary and secondary target values went down. Second, target rolls now follow the same weekly rhythm as the other heists, with a reset every Thursday.
In practice, your first scope of the week is the one that matters. According to GTA BOOM, it gives roughly a 40% chance of the Ruby Necklace, 40% for the Bearer Bonds and 20% for the Pink Diamond. Later scopes in the same week give you the Tequila about 80% of the time. These percentages come from player observations, not official figures.
How much are the primary targets worth now?
| Primary target | Before 1.73 | Normal (since 1.73) | Hard (+10%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sinsimito Tequila | 630,000 | 400,000 | 440,000 |
| Ruby Necklace | 700,000 | 560,000 | 616,000 |
| Bearer Bonds | 770,000 | 616,000 | 677,600 |
| Pink Diamond | 1,300,000 | 910,000 | 1,001,000 |
| Panther Statue (events only) | 1,900,000 | 1,900,000 | 2,090,000 |
Values in GTA$. "Since 1.73" columns: GTA BOOM (updated August 17, 2026) and Timesaver (September 2026), which agree. "Before" column: GameRant's table from July 15, 2026, which does not cite the official notes. GameRant gives no new value for the Panther; GTA BOOM lists it unchanged. WantedWise has not yet checked any of these values in game.
Which secondary loot should you grab solo?
Solo, you only have one bag. The whole game is filling it with whatever pays the most per slot. Gold is by far the most profitable, but it takes up a lot of room: one bag only holds about one and a half stacks of gold.
| Loot (per stack) | Value after 1.73 | Stacks per solo bag | Full bag, roughly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 295,500 to 300,000 | 1.5 | 443,000 to 450,000 |
| Cocaine | 178,200 to 182,250 | 2 | 356,000 to 364,000 |
| Paintings | 141,750 to 162,000 | 2 | 283,000 to 324,000 |
| Weed | 117,450 to 121,500 | 2.7 | 313,000 to 324,000 |
| Cash | 70,875 to 74,925 | 4 | 283,000 to 300,000 |
Sources: GTA BOOM and Timesaver, values after the 10% cut to secondary loot reported by GameRant. El Rubio's safe comes on top and takes no bag space: between 18,000 and 99,000 GTA$.
The simple rule: gold first if there is any inside the compound, then cocaine, then paintings. Cash is only for topping off what is left in your bag. During the scope, note where the gold is. Without it, your run easily loses 100,000 to 150,000 GTA$.
How much do you really make per solo run?
Two cuts come off at the end: a 10% fencing fee and 2% for Pavel, about 12% in total. You also need to subtract the 100,000 GTA$ setup fee paid at the Kosatka. Here are two sample calculations using the values published after the update:
| Scenario | Gross (target + bag + safe) | Net after fees and setup |
|---|---|---|
| Tequila on Normal, one bag of gold, average safe | about 900,000 | about 690,000 |
| Pink Diamond on Hard, one bag of gold, average safe | about 1,500,000 | about 1,220,000 |
| Elite Challenge bonus | +50,000 on Normal, +100,000 on Hard | |
These ballpark figures match Timesaver's estimate (700,000 to 800,000 for a Tequila, about 1.24 million for a Pink Diamond on Hard). If there is no gold available, take off about 100,000 GTA$.
What do you need to buy to run Cayo Perico?
The heist starts from the Kosatka submarine, which costs from 2,200,000 GTA$ according to GTA Boss (base price, no upgrades). Submarine upgrades such as the sonar or the guided missile are not needed for the heist.
Before you buy, ask yourself one question: how many runs will you actually do? At around 700,000 GTA$ net per Tequila run, it takes four runs to pay off the submarine. If you are picking your first purchases, our guide on what to buy first in GTA Online compares the Kosatka with the other options.
How do you repeat Cayo Perico solo, step by step?
- Scope. Do it early in the week (after Thursday) to get the best target roll. Find the gold and the entry points, and photograph the primary target.
- Required preps. The approach vehicle, the weapons and the equipment listed on the planning board. Do them in an Invite Only Session so nobody bothers you (see our tip on sessions).
- Optional preps. For a stealthy solo run, most of them are useless. Only do the ones that genuinely make your chosen entry easier.
- Finale. Stay quiet, grab the target, fill your bag in this order: gold, cocaine, paintings. Then get out. El Rubio's safe is in his office, in the main building.
- After the Finale. Note the time: you can start again 144 minutes later.
How long do you wait between two Cayo Perico runs?
The cooldown depends on how you played the Finale, not on how you did the preps:
| Finale played | Cooldown before the next one |
|---|---|
| Solo | 3 in-game days, or 144 real minutes |
| With others | 1 in-game day, or 48 real minutes |
Sources: GTA BOOM (August 17, 2026) and Timesaver (September 2026). While you wait, do something else: a business sale, a contract, or the Kortz Center Heist if you own a mansion.
Is Hard Mode worth it?
Yes, once you know your route. It kicks in if you restart the Finale within 48 real minutes of Pavel's call and pay the setup fee. The primary target is worth 10% more and the Elite bonus goes from 50,000 to 100,000 GTA$. In exchange, you face more guards. The details are in our tip on Hard Mode for heists.
What is the Cayo Perico Elite Challenge?
According to GTA BOOM, you need to finish in under 15 minutes, with every bag filled and no failed hacks. The bonus is 50,000 GTA$ on Normal and 100,000 on Hard. Since the nerf, that is a modest bonus: do not risk your loot to shave off a few seconds.
Cayo Perico solo or as a duo?
As a duo, you carry two bags and the cooldown drops to 48 minutes, but you split the take. Each player must get at least 15%, according to the GTA Wiki. If you are short on time, a duo is often more profitable per hour, as long as your partner is reliable. We cover the split in how to split heist cuts and in our guide to playing GTA Online with a crew.
What routine keeps Cayo profitable?
With the weekly roll, the most logical routine for a solo player looks like this: one Cayo early in the week to go for a good target, then Tequila runs only if you have the time and there is gold in the compound. Between runs, keep your other income sources going. To build a full routine, read how to make money solo in GTA Online.
If you want to go further, the WantedWise ebook includes routines based on how much time you have, and 1v1 coaching lets you do your first Cayo with someone guiding you.
FAQ
Is Cayo Perico still worth doing solo after July 2026?
Yes, if you already own the Kosatka. Based on the values published after Update 1.73, a solo run still nets around 0.7 to 1.2 million depending on the primary target and secondary loot. Buying the submarine just for this heist is less profitable than it used to be.
How long is the cooldown between two solo Cayo Perico runs?
After a solo Finale, wait 144 real minutes (three in-game days) before you can start again. After a Finale played with others, the cooldown drops to 48 minutes.
Why do I keep getting the Sinsimito Tequila as my primary target?
Since Update 1.73, target rolls follow a weekly cycle that resets every Thursday. Your first scope of the week favors the Ruby Necklace, the Bearer Bonds and the Pink Diamond. Later scopes very often give you the Tequila.
Does the Panther Statue still exist?
It still appears in value tables (1.9 million on Normal according to GTA BOOM), but it only shows up during events run by Rockstar, not on a regular scope.
Sources
- GTABase: Update 1.73 patch notes (Kortz Center, Cayo Perico target nerf) (July 19, 2026)
- Rockstar Newswire: The Kortz Center Heist Now Available in GTA Online (July 14, 2026)
- GTA BOOM: Cayo Perico Heist Payout List, Cooldowns, Bonus Payouts and All Targets (August 17, 2026)
- GameRant: GTA Online heist payout nerfs, old and new values (July 15, 2026)
- Timesaver: GTA Online Cayo Perico Loot Values 2026 (September 11, 2026)
- GTA Boss: Everything You Need to Know About the Kosatka Submarine (base price) (undated, accessed September 23, 2026)
- GTA Wiki (Fandom): The Cayo Perico Heist, Finale (minimum cuts) (undated, accessed September 23, 2026)
Guide prepared with the help of AI tools from the sources cited, then reviewed by the WantedWise team. Independent site, not affiliated with Rockstar Games.
