The Cayo Perico Heist
A Kosatka-planned island heist against El Rubio’s compound — the first GTA Online heist that can be completed solo. After Madrazo Files (or any finale), Pavel calls again in 144 minutes solo or 48 minutes with 2+ players. Panther Statue is event-week only and guaranteed once per week when Rockstar enables it.
Overview
The Cayo Perico Heist sends the crew to Juan “El Rubio” Strickler’s island compound. It launched with The Cayo Perico Heist update and is planned from a Kosatka submarine with support from Pavel. Unlike earlier Online heists, the finale can be completed with a single player. The first primary target players recover is the Madrazo Files (sometimes called “mini Madrazo Files” in community shorthand).
Gather Intel
From the Kosatka, the host travels to Cayo Perico to scope the compound. Intel unlocks approach points, entry methods, and points of interest for secondary loot. Pavel provides guidance during planning.
Preparations
Preparation missions unlock weapons, equipment, disruptions, and approach vehicles. Required and optional preps are listed on the Kosatka heist screen before the finale can launch.
Finale
The finale infiltrates El Rubio’s compound. Primary target loot on the opening run is the Madrazo Files. Secondary loot can be taken from additional island locations when those spots were scoped and remain available. One to four players can complete the finale.
Primary targets & Panther Statue
Normal Freemode primaries rotate among Sinsimito Tequila, Ruby Necklace, Bearer Bonds, and Pink Diamond (Madrazo Files is the opening-story primary). The **Panther Statue** (Sapphire Panther) is **not** in that everyday pool — Rockstar only enables it during announced event weeks. When Newswire says the Panther is back as a **guaranteed** primary on your **first** Cayo Perico completion that week, that guarantee is **one per player for that week**. After you finish that finale, later Cayo runs the same week fall back to the normal primary pool — you should **not** expect a second guaranteed Panther. Treat the first eligible run as the one to optimize (Hard Mode, secondary bag, Elite Challenge). Outside an event week, canceling and restarting will not spawn Panther.
Cooldown & Pavel call
After you finish the finale (including Madrazo Files), Pavel texts that he will contact you when it is safe to try again. That call arrives after a real-time cooldown that depends on how many players finished the finale: **solo = 144 real minutes** (3 in-game days / 2 hours 24 minutes), **2+ players = 48 real minutes** (1 in-game day). Leaving the game does not pause the timer. When Pavel texts that the island is ready, you have **48 real minutes** to return to the Kosatka, pay the GTA$100,000 setup fee, and start Scope Out if you want Hard Mode; miss that window and the next run is Normal Mode.