I have noticed many changes over the five years since I lived here. First the roads are greatly improved. Many places are newly paved and are going to 2 lane roads. (Well, especially in the north.) Of course that means a lot of the roads are under construction and are slower.
Their knowledge of agua pura has so greatly increased. Even on that little island they had agua pura for us. The other day walking through the market there was a garfono (5 gal) of agua pura open and being drank by the GUATEMALANS!! the Guatemalans who work at the market, not just he city dwellers! 97% of the water here in Guatemala is infested with ***!
The group says they now feel like they are on Summer Service because they have had some sore spots and very hot times melting in the back of a covered pick up truck while going over bumpy dirt roads. The bugs really have not been as bad as I remember in this area. That has made it a lot more comfortable.