The Exchange is a main story mission in GTA 3, given to Claude by Catalina.

It's the 67° and final mission in GTA III in chronological order, and it takes place in Shoreside Vale. It becomes available after completing Ransom.

Rescue Maria and kill Catalina.

The Exchange: Mission Objectives

• Get Catalina!
• Follow the chopper to find Catalina.

GTA III: "The Exchange" Walkthrough

The Exchange is the final story mission in Grand Theft Auto III. Catalina, the central antagonist, has taken Maria hostage, demanding that Claude bring a hefty  $500,000 ransom to Cedar Grove to secure her release. Things go sideways, and Claude must chase Catalina down and finish her off before she escapes with Maria and the cash. 

Bulletproof Patriot

Marked Man is a story mission that must be completed before starting The Exchange. One of the rewards for doing so is a bulletproof Patriot that would be useful to you! Click here if you require assistance with completing the aforementioned mission! When approaching the mansion, park the Patriot on the street out front before confronting Catalina!

Escape and Chase Down the Helicopter

Walking into the blue marker outside the mansion triggers a cutscene. Claude will fork over the cash for Maria's safety, but Catalina won't hold up her end of the deal. She takes off with Maria and the money, leaving you to be finished off by the cartel. After the exchange, you'll gain control once again, and members of the Colombian cartel looking to protect Catalina will move in for the attack.

You'll be stripped of all your weapons, aside from a pistol and your body armor. Run through the haze of bullets and gun down the two henchmen guarding the exit. Collect the ammo they drop and head out the gate, leaving all other enemies behind. A helicopter will be flying overhead, and you'll be tasked with following it. A seven-minute timer appears at the top right of the screen, and you must bring the helicopter down before it hits zero. 

Alternate Routes

Your bulletproof patriot will still be out on the street waiting for you. Hop in and head north, following the road around to the dam's entrance, where a couple of cartel members will be blocking your path with their cars. Turn the gang members into fender ketchup and maneuver around their vehicles before pressing onward.  

Fight Your Way to Catalina

There are a couple of different methods for completing The Exchange. Though both are viable options, the second method presented here is arguably the easiest! We'll walk you through each one, and you can make an educated choice on which one suits your playstyle! 

Method 1: On Foot

If you choose to chase Catalina into the dam without a bulletproof vehicle, you'll need to hotfoot it, leaving you exposed to gunfire. Run down the path and collect the sniper rifle that's hidden amongst the trees off to the right. Use it to pick off as many cartel members as you can before continuing. A health pickup is tucked behind a cargo container nearby if you need it. Make the final push up to the rooftop, but be vigilant of the gang members waiting for you along the way!

Method 2: Bulletproof Patriot

If you take the bulletproof Patriot through the dam, you can avoid most of the gunfire, but you will still have a couple of obstacles to overcome. While driving through the dam, don't let any of the cartel members get too close to your vehicle. If they manage to pull you out of the car, you will almost certainly meet your doom, failing the mission. Avoid getting too close to the explosive barrels on either side, as a single stray bullet can blow them up and cause damage to your car. It's important to note that the Patriot isn't explosion-proof, nor is it invulnerable to flames! After a short time, the helicopter will circle the dam and fire rockets at you. If one manages to hit your vehicle, it's game over, and you'll have to restart the mission or reload your save file to get the special vehicle back! 

NOTE: A gang member is wielding a flamethrower near the stairs! If he manages to get close when you're on foot, or in a car, your health will quickly drain, and it will only take a couple of seconds for your car to be destroyed! Take him out from a distance or mow him down with the Patriot before he can deal too much damage!

Get to the Roof and Shoot Down the Helicopter

Once you manage to get to the roof, a couple more cartel members will be waiting for you with heavy weaponry. They'll mow you down if you're not quick enough. Two are on either side of Maria, while another is adjacent to them. Take them all out, and make sure Maria doesn't get caught in the crossfire! Near the edge of the rooftop, you'll find a rocket launcher, leaving you only a few chances to bring the helicopter down.

If you run out of rocket pellets and haven't managed to pick up an assault rifle with manual aim, you'll be forced to accept defeat, as you won't be able to do anything but watch the timer count down to zero. The helicopter will continue to shoot rocket pellets, which can do extreme damage to you and Maria. Be quick and efficient, as the helicopter will move, making it difficult to get a clear shot. Bring it down when it hovers in the same spot for a brief moment.

DO NOT shoot the helicopter out of the sky when it's in the same proximity as you and Maria! The explosion could damage your health, killing you or Maria in the process, and failing the mission! As soon as the helicopter is destroyed, there will be one final cutscene of a news report playing as you walk away from the carnage with Maria. Stick around as the credits begin to roll and listen to a suggestive line of dialogue. 

Upon completing The Exchange, you'll have completed the main story, and you'll get $1,000,000. You also get access to the Rhino Tank that spawns at Phil's Army Surplus. Though you've finished the narrative, there are plenty of things left to do to reach 100% completion!

The Exchange: Mission Info

The Exchange: Video Walkthrough

Original Game Walkthrough (PS2, Xbox, PC):

The Definitive Edition Remaster Walkthrough: