Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - With around 300 bicyclists of the Bay of Banderas and Puerto Vallarta, on Sunday, September 25, 2011, a test was conducted to ensure the safety of the official tour route of the Pan American Torch.

On October 7th, the torch will be carried by 104 runners from both Jalisco and Nayarit, led by the Governor of Nayarit, Roberto Sandoval Castañeda, who will, on the bridge of Rio Ameca, deliver it to the Governor of Jalisco, Emilio González Márquez.

The torch will arrive in Riviera Nayarit by sea, carried by the National Sailing Team, and will be moved to the cauldron on the Malecón that will be lit to open the 2011 Pan American Games in Puerto Vallarta.

With regard to this route, Manuel Loza reported that on 7 October at 2:00 pm the contingent of 104 runners will leave the Paradise Village Resort in Nuevo Vallarta. They will head for the Malecón, reaching it in time for the 7:30 pm Pan American Games Opening Celebration.

This was made known by Puerto Vallarta Municipal Sports Council president Manuel Loza during a break on the Rio Ameca bridge during the bike tour, which started at Paradise Village in Nuevo Vallarta. On the bridge, the group was met by José Gómez and cyclists from the Asociación Siempre con la Gente de Bahía de Banderas, who joined the ride to Puerto Vallarta.

When the Pan American torch arrives on our shores on October 7 there will be a ceremony at the Nuevo Vallarta Yacht Club, where the National Sailing Team will pass the torch to Paradise Village owner Graciano Sovernigo, who in turn, will deliver it to the Mayor of Bahía de Banderas, Rafael Cervantes Padilla.

Afterwards, there will be a small celebration at the Paradise Village Resort, where Mayor Rafael Cervantes will deliver the torch to the director of Education, Culture and Sports, Benito Castillo, who will start the 2011 Panamerican Torch Relay toward Puerto Vallarta at 2:00 sharp.

Upon reaching the Ameca River Bridge, Benito Castillo will pass the torch to the Governor of Nayarit, Roberto Sandoval Castañeda, who in turn will deliver it to the Governor of Jalisco, Emilio González Márquez.

The course consists of 32 miles starting in Nuevo Vallarta, heading to Pitillal and Fluvial, then along Medina Ascencio Avenue until it reaches the Puerto Vallarta Malecón near the lighthouse.

The four 2011 Pan American games to be held in the Bay of Banderas area are: Sailing from October 16 to 22 at the Vallarta Yacht Club in Nuevo Vallarta; Beach Volleyball from October 15 to 22 at the Pan American Beach Volleyball Stadium in the Puerto Vallarta Hotel Zone; the 10 kilometer Open Water Swimming Competition in front of the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta on October 22; and the Triathlon at the API Maritime Terminal on October 23rd.