This cheery yellow republican house in San Blas, hugging a large garden patio with stellar city views, has some of the best value accommodations in Cusco. Regular renovations and improvements mean it isn't as inexpensive as it once was, but it still attracts backpackers looking for something more than just a dormitory-style bed and unwilling to break the bank. The decor, with its handicraft market paintings of Andean life, borders on kitschy. There is natural light aplenty, plus some interesting wood and stonework. Rooms come in a range of sizes. Overall, Amaru is a friendly and relaxed spot that gets a lot of return visitors. If the hostel is full, the same owners have a couple of simpler properties elsewhere in and around San Blas, like Amaru Colonial and Hostal Mallqui, a youth hostal.