Despite it being overlooked by tourists in favour of Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cabo, Mazatlan is one of my favourite beach destinations in the entire country.
We'll get to why that is in a minute. Can feel warmer thanks to humidity. Can experience rain fall July-October. This sordid reputation has caused a recent decline in tourism was one of its worse years ever for tourists. However, perception of danger and danger are two different things. I'm happy to say that I always felt completely safe in Mazatlan, even at night in the old center of town. It appeared everyone else did as well - tourists and locals alike were out well past dark. Although there are some occasional reports of drug violence outside of the city, there really isn't much to worry about in Mazatlan, especially if you stick to the tourist zones like Zona Dorada.
You can walk there from the old city center, and the hike to the lighthouse is very manageable. You'll be rewarded with spectacular vistas of the ocean and city, and you'll likely have the view all to yourself. It's a resort destination, so it's not particularly difficult. However, it's not quite as easy as Cancun or Playa del Carmen.
For some reason, tourists here didn't seem quite as slutty. That being said, locals showed more interest in me here than in other beach destinations, perhaps due to the fact that Mazatlan isn't completely overrun by tourists. I had sex here once during my one-week stay, and she wasn't of the best quality to be honest. I'd need to go back for longer to give you a more thorough analysis hehe. You can chat with local girls and set up dates before you arrive in the country, which is a major advantage.
As you might expect from a Mexican resort destination, it's pretty good. I recommend: Joe's Oyster Bar or Valentino. These are the two bars by the ocean in Zona Dorada. They are basically right next to each other so you can do both.
