The ruins of the city were rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1909 in a remote forest site 130 km west of Cuzco , but he failed to realize its significance , because he believed that Machu Picchu , which he also rediscovered , was the fabled `` Lost City of the Incas '' . The site of the ruins of the city were then rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 at the remote forest site 130 k west of Cuzco called EspÃ ritu Pampa , and are written of in his classic Lost City of the Incas . Yet , he failed to realize its significance , preferring to believe that Machu Picchu , which he also rediscovered , was the fabled `` Vilcabamba , '' lost city and last refuge of the Incas .