Five of us stayed at this hostel for 3 nights during New Years'06.
The staff is super friendly and really helpful. The rooms are very clean. Location is perfect, and the money paid for the rooms is going for great cause. I would stay there again and strongly recommend it to all.

US$28/night, double, w/bath & cont. breakfast. I stayed in 4 different rooms at this hostal. The best & largest was Room 17 which was huge, in the back, on the 2nd floor, with a vaulted ceiling, skylight and views of the mountains surrounding Cusco. There is a cafe and courtyard. Great location in San Blas - the artists area of Cusco and only 3 blocks (uphill) from the main plaza. Although email response was prompt, service while at the hostal was inconsistent.

hostalmarani

I went to Cusco in Feb. 2005, and on the advice of a friend, stayed at Hostal Marani. As a single woman, I was concerned about staying in a clean, safe environment near the city center. Hostal Marani is located in San Blas, away from the craziness of the center, but only three blocks away. I felt very safe walking those very few blocks to and from the hotel morning, noon and night (there are a number of things to see in San Blas anyway). Don't let the name "hostal" mislead you. Yes, this is a small establishment and the amenities do not match those of a large hotel, but considering a rate of about $20/night, I couldn't have been happier. The staff were extremely helpful and some of the profits go to help street children. It would've been a waste of money to pay more to stay anywhere else. Check out their web site for more info. I'm telling all my friends, single or not, with kids or not, to stay here, and if I return to Cusco, I will definitely stay there and nowhere else again!