Casa Sahil is a slow-tourism, hospitality brand located in the lush jungle surrounding the ¡national park of Semuc Champey in Guatemala. Founded by a group of Guatemalan entrepreneurs with deep roots in the region, the project was created to offer travellers a more thoughtful way to experience the area, combining nature, community, and cultural exchange. The name reflects this intention: Casa means house in Spanish, while Sahil means happiness in the Mayan Q’eqchi’ language spoken by the people indigenous to the area.
Located along the Río Cahabón near the small village of Semil, Casa Sahil operates in a remote region where tourism plays an important role in supporting the local economy. The founders were deeply committed to sustainable tourism and wanted their brand to reflect both the natural beauty of the landscape and the warmth of the local culture.
When Casa Sahil approached me, the business had a strong vision but lacked a cohesive visual identity to communicate its ethos and attract international travellers visiting Semuc Champey. The challenge was to create a brand that felt authentic to its environment while clearly expressing the spirit of adventure, hospitality, and cultural respect at the heart of the project.
Located along the Río Cahabón near the small village of Semil, Casa Sahil operates in a remote region where tourism plays an important role in supporting the local economy. The founders were deeply committed to sustainable tourism and wanted their brand to reflect both the natural beauty of the landscape and the warmth of the local culture.
When Casa Sahil approached me, the business had a strong vision but lacked a cohesive visual identity to communicate its ethos and attract international travellers visiting Semuc Champey. The challenge was to create a brand that felt authentic to its environment while clearly expressing the spirit of adventure, hospitality, and cultural respect at the heart of the project.
The project required designing not just a logo, but a brand that could live naturally within the landscape; from signage along jungle paths to printed materials guiding guests through the experience of the place.
Creative Approach
The identity drew inspiration from the surrounding jungle landscape, ancient Mayan art, and the welcoming, communal spirit of the region. The goal was to create a visual language that felt warm, handmade, and connected to place, reflecting Casa Sahil’s philosophy of slow, meaningful tourism that gives back.
Alongside the brand logo, I designed an illustrated map and brochure to help orient travellers in the remote environment and highlight the activities available in the surrounding area, including tubing tours, jungle hikes, and cultural visits with local families.
To extend the brand physically into the landscape, I also created a hand-painted wooden sign placed along the riverside path, reinforcing Casa Sahil’s presence in a way that felt organic and integrated with the natural setting.
Alongside the brand logo, I designed an illustrated map and brochure to help orient travellers in the remote environment and highlight the activities available in the surrounding area, including tubing tours, jungle hikes, and cultural visits with local families.
To extend the brand physically into the landscape, I also created a hand-painted wooden sign placed along the riverside path, reinforcing Casa Sahil’s presence in a way that felt organic and integrated with the natural setting.
What was the impact
The new brand identity helped position Casa Sahil as more than a stopover for travellers visiting Semuc Champey, but as a destination experience in its own right. By strengthening the brand’s visual presence and storytelling, Casa Sahil was able to communicate its values of sustainability, adventure, and cultural connection more clearly to international visitors.
The illustrated map and printed materials helped guests better understand the depth of experiences available in the region, encouraging longer stays and deeper engagement with local activities. Meanwhile, the environmental signage and cohesive visual identity created a stronger sense of place, reinforcing Casa Sahil’s character as a welcoming base for exploring the surrounding jungle and river landscape.
Together, these elements helped transform Casa Sahil from a small hospitality project into a recognisable and memorable brand experience within one of Guatemala’s most unique natural destinations.
The illustrated map and printed materials helped guests better understand the depth of experiences available in the region, encouraging longer stays and deeper engagement with local activities. Meanwhile, the environmental signage and cohesive visual identity created a stronger sense of place, reinforcing Casa Sahil’s character as a welcoming base for exploring the surrounding jungle and river landscape.
Together, these elements helped transform Casa Sahil from a small hospitality project into a recognisable and memorable brand experience within one of Guatemala’s most unique natural destinations.