An italian in mexico: weather and docs advice

[sadoblazo]

hi guys...
im in the eraly stages of planning a trip to mexico this summer, and i was wondering if any of you could give me some advice.
I plan to be in mexico in the beginning of june and ride for 40 days or so. What is the weather like around that time of the year. ive ridden to dakar in july, so heat is not much of a concern. rain and muggy roads however do spoil my fun. what can i expect?
last but not least.... any of you know what is needed to take a EU-registered bike into mexico? im entering via US, if that makes any difference...

[mollydog]

Entering Mexico you will have to get a tourist permit The Pacific side
get a couple good guide books.

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Pat gives some good advice, not wanting to appear as a nit picker I must however point out a clarification about the credit card charges you will be getting.
There is a fee for temporary import of the bike and it is NON refundable .As Pat says it is about the equivalent of 32 US dollars but it MUST be paid by using a credit card which is in your name, same name as on your bike ownership and passport and only MASTERCARD or VISA will be accepted .
There is no bond to be paid-- unless your credit cards are rejected , or if you have no credit card at all. In that case you will have to pay in CASH US DOLLARS ONLY an amount which will vary according to the age of your bike or car. For recent model years it is the maximum of $400 US , less for older vehicles. THIS IS a BOND and you will get it back when you leave Mexico for the final time and cancel your tourist card and temp import permit. They are very straight about that , they do not try a ripoff, . Believe me, I have paid such a bond at one time and it was promptly and honestly paid back when I cancelled out. .
The tourist card is "free" but there is a tourist tax associated with getting into Mexico , 262 pesos or US dollar equivalent last week, and this can be paid in cash or by credit card at the same time you pay the temp import at the border aduana - Banjercito or you can pay it later at any registered bank inside Mexico .
A new wrinkle on the tourist card fee appeared this year . Before this year the tourist card had a stub at the bottom where the validating "PAGADO" stamp would be placed. The new tourist card form does not have this stub. Instead you must pay either at the border or at a bank and then you MUST get a receipt for the payment to carry with the card for when you finally check out of Mexico.If you forgot to pay then you will still have to pay when you try to check out of Mexico at the end of your stay. The funny thing is that the stub was very handy and small but the new style receipt is two full computer printout pages, identical, -- paperless office ???
Do not loose this receipt or you will have a little more time to spend at the Migracion desk while they do a computer search of the site from the border crossing where you entered and where they can see if you did or did not pay already. Search of a bank payment would be very difficult I imagine since you are apt to forget where and when you might have paid, so again , don't loose it.
A final remark as to the hot season. Actually April and May are some of the warmest months in much of the tropical areas precisely because it is not yet the rainy season. Radiation from the sun will be at a maximum with near cloudless skies so the temps climb into the 30s When the rainseason begins the cloud cover keeps the ground from heating as much,ergo lower temps but humidity will increase. The Hottest parts of Mexico are always the northern deserts in summer where the sun vertically beats down thru cloudles skies in summer.
Whenever you choose to travel be flexible to dodge any seasonal storms , hurricanes that might take the fun out of riding. You are bound to have an enjoyable trip no matter where you go.If in warm weather you can see the light at the other end of a rain cloud just ride right through it and let yourself get wet- it will quickly dry once you get back into sunshine. If you can not see the other side then put on some light rain gear.

[sadoblazo]

thanks guys.... some clear and extensive answers, as usual.
thanks for your time, guys..... really!