Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - This past Wednesday morning, twelve community members and travelers gathered in Bucerias for Investours’ first tour of the season. By the afternoon, the group was left with their hearts as full as their stomachs after a day of getting to know some inspirational local artisans.

“A wonderful tour and experience," said Vallarta resident Gary Beck, author of the PV Restaurant Guide. "There will be many more opportunities and we urge you to join in and assist the local business people.”

Investours Director Elly Rohrer first brought the group to peak into one of Bucerias' small “artesanias” (Mexican crafts) shop. Paty, the shop's owner, showed group how she paints handmade clay bowls and talked about her success in growing a successful shop when she started with a loan of under $300.

Next, they went to a gardener's shop. Salome, the business owner, had created a "before and after" display to show off his skills, shaping one overgrown bush and leaving the one next to it untouched.

The group also learned about Salome’s experience of crossing the American border four times, each time more dangerous than the last. He wants to create a successful business so that his four sons are never forced to do the same in pursuit of better opportunities.

The next stop was the workshop of local piñata maker Lupita, who was busy making the paper-mâché figures for the upcoming Day of the Dead celebrations.

She was happy to share the secrets of her craft with the group, even allowing them to help make the mummy she was working on! Lupita, a single mother of one beautiful girl, is eager to grow her business so that she can one day pass it on to her daughter.

After building up quite an appetite, the group finished up the day at Señor Ponce’s famous birria stand.

Señor Ponce demonstrated how to make salsa Mexicana in a molcajete (mortar) as well as handmade tortillas. Everyone then sat down to a Mexican feast of quesadillas with all the fixins (cactus salad, three kinds of salsa, cheddar cheese, and stewed beans.)

They were thrilled to find out that the tour proceeds would go to make Salome’s recent loan interest-free, getting him one step closer to purchasing the truck that would make a tremendous difference for his gardening business.

Investours is an international non-profit with the mission of providing travelers with meaningful cross-cultural interactions that empower micro-entrepreneurs and directly stimulate local economic growth. Visit their website investours.org and Facebook facebook.com/investours for more information.

The Bucerias Walking Tour begins in the center plaza of Bucerias and includes a guided walking tour of three local artisans in addition to a full lunch. There is no set cost and participants are encouraged to make the donation they feel is appropriate to empower one of the artisans they meet.

The Nayarit Artisan Tour includes transportation from downtown Vallarta into several surrounding communities to meet local artisans, including Punta de Mita, Higuera Blanca, and Bucerias. For this tour, Investours requests a donation of $59 to be used towards an interest-free loan for one of the artisans visited.

Investours is offering special "Day of the Dead" food tours on October 26th and 29th. This will be a unique chance to taste your way through the tradition and learn about how the locals will be celebrating. Both of these tours will include transportation from downtown to communities such as El Porvenir, Bucerias, and Punta de Mita.

E-mail Elly Rohrer at mexico(at)investours.org or call 322-191-5309 for more details or to sign up.