Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - There's always so much going on in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay, it can be difficult to keep up with it all. Here's a look at some of this week's Puerto Vallarta news headlines and community announcements, plus a couple of tupcoming local events that you won't want to miss.

11th Las Guacas Motorcycle Challenge & Rally

The Las Guacas Motorcycle Challenge returns to Puerto Vallarta for the 11th time June 7-8, 2014, giving beginner and seasoned ATV and motorcycling enthusiasts the opportunity to race through Vallarta's surrounding mountains and jungles. Open to motorcycles, quads and all-terrain vehicles, the race travels through 160 km of dirt roads, crosses rivers and presents other challenges along the Sierra Madre. Off road enthusiasts can participate in two categories, one of which is speed-based. On the first day, there will be plenty of time to socialize as well as an introductory race in which participants can race along a short 2 km route to determine the order in which competitors will start the following day. For more information, visit motofashion.net.

Pacific Alliance Business Matchmaking at Puerto Vallarta Convention Center

The IX Pacific Alliance Summit, scheduled to be held in Nayarit June 19-20, 2014, will not only bring together Latin American leaders, but will also bring 480 export companies from NATO countries and about 240 buyers from Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, China, Korea and Japan to the Puerto Vallarta International Convention Center for two days of "Business Matchmaking." An estimated 3,840 business appointments, which will benefit entrepreneurs in the agriculture, manufacturing, and clothing sectors, are expected to be held during the Business Expo. The Pacific Alliance agreement mandates that participating countries move forward with a strategy for cooperation through joint activities aimed at promoting trade, investment and tourism commissioned by the ministries in charge of foreign trade of each of its member countries. Therefore, these business meetings are expected to further strengthen the growth of intra-industry trade, not only between regional enterprises, but also with Asia-Pacific buyers.

'Salish Country Cookbook' Now Available on ITunes or IBooks

The digital IPad publication of the full color Salish Country Cookbook, written by founding Chair of the Center for World Indigenous Studies, Rudolph C. Ryser, with photography by Elise Krohn, Ben Legler, and Marlene Bremner, can now be downloaded from ITunes or IBooks. Puerto Vallarta's own Dr. Leslie Korn was pleased to be the editor and a contributor of this cookbook, which evolved over 15 years of the Center for World Indigenous Studies and Center for Traditional Medicine's "Culture, Foods and Medicines" workshops throughout the Pacific Northwest with tribal and non tribal peoples. 'Salish Country Cookbook' is a celebration of Salish knowledge with ancient roots in the land and the sea. It contains recipes that use Northwest native foods and medicines gathered and prepared in ways suitable for the 21st century kitchen. The Salish living cornucopia includes a great abundance of roots, greens, berries, nuts, apples, seeds, flowers, honey and tree sap, tree bark, deer, elk, bear, pheasant, ducks, geese, and sea foods including sea weed, shellfish, salmon, cod, halibut, and a small fish, the Oolichan. Click HERE to purchase your copy.

World Environment Day Discovery Hike at Vallarta Botanical Gardens

Celebrate World Environment Day and the wonders of our environment at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens on Thursday, June 5th, from 8 am to 12 pm. The Gardens will have an "early bird" opening for this event, so you can enjoy a special morning of bird and plant observation with local bird guides and volunteers guiding participants and helping with field identification. While our eyes are directed upwards in search of birds, they'll also point out some of our favorite epiphytes–plants (including orchids and bromeliads) that mostly grow and blossom high up in the forest canopy. The Gardens have a limited supply of binoculars to loan out on a first come, first served basis, but please bring your own if you have them. For a guide to the birds that you are likely to find at the Vallarta Botanical Gardens, Click HERE to download a printable list.

Upcoming Events in Puerto Vallarta and Around Banderas Bay
Click on titles for more information

• Vallarta Restaurant Week Continues through May 31

• Vallarta Pride Offers 5 Days of Entertainment

• The 'Gay Fair Ladies' at Daiquiri Dick's