GTA Online's Cayo Perico Beach Party can be explored after completion of Heist as Leader

GTA Online's largest title update ever, dubbed the 'Cayo Perico' update, brought with it something that players have been asking for years, a map expansion.

Pictured in the trailers was a sprawling island landscape with a lot to discover along with the heist that would take place on it.

But when GTA Online's Cayo Perico update dropped, players' excitement soon turned into dismay as they thought that the first map expansion that GTA 5 has ever received was not available to explore in free roam.

GTA Online Cayo Perico Beach Party can be visited after completion of the Heist

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Cayo Perico Island (Image via Rockstar Games)

In the first scope out mission players were allowed to visit the island to gather intel for the heist. After completing their stakeout players attempted, to visit the island again, but to no avail.

Can't believe Rockstar added a map expansion to GTA just to not allow people to actually play on it during free roam. Another miss.

— Buchmn (@Buchmn) December 15, 2020

NEWS: As expected, the new Cayo Perico Island is NOT available to explore in Free Roam. #GTAOnline pic.twitter.com/WFiZywT0EQ

— GTA News 😷 RockstarINTEL.com (@GTAonlineNews) December 15, 2020

Since then Rockstar has updated their official patch notes to set the record straight that the players can visit the Cayo Perico Beach Party after completion of the heist as a leader. Players must simply complete the heist once, solo or with friends. The official patch notes describe it as:

"The Cayo Perico Island has been added to GTA Online. The Island consists of several different key locations that players can explore while scoping for the Heist, including a beach party where new DJ collective Keinemusik performs an exclusive set. Upon completing the Heist as leader, players can return to the Cayo Perico beach party at their convenience and invite others along for the journey."

"Upon completing the Heist as leader, players can return to the Cayo Perico beach party at their convenience and invite others along for the journey."#GTAOnlinehttps://t.co/YHnoL4EduZ

— Tez2 (@TezFunz2) December 15, 2020

No, you go through a loading screen to end up in the island where you enjoy the beach party and can invite others.

— Tez2 (@TezFunz2) December 15, 2020

Rockstar has also confirmed that the submarine HQ, named Kosatka, is a driveable property, and that it is the official base of operations for the Cayo Perico heist.

"The Kosatka has been added to GTA Online. The Kosatka is a new driveable Submarine property that acts as a base of operations for planning The Cayo Perico Heist. The Kosatka can be customized with Guided Missiles, a Sonar Station, and a Weapon Workshop. The Kosatka also comes with a Moon Pool where players can store the new Sparrow, Kraken Avisa and Pegassi Toreador vehicles."

Note: It was earlier stated that GTA Online's Cayo Perico Island is open to be explored, but after completion of the Heist, it was later found out that only the beach party could be visited, solo or with friends.