Sotuta means "swirling waters" and is said to be synonymous with Nach Cocom who led the Maya opposition to the Spanish conquistadors.

Nach did not like to work with white colonialist and in 1535 he had slayed the heads of a group of Xiu nobles which ultimately caused his own downfall.

In 1542 he had recorded victory over the Montejos at the battle at Tiho and came back to Sotuta but the Spanish army captured the territory within the year.

Following this incident, the friars faced the ire of the local people and as a result the clergy was made secular and the Franciscan control of the mission was annulled.

[2] Yucatán declared its independence from the Spanish Crown in 1821 and in 1825, the area was assigned to the Beneficios Bajos region with its headquarters in Sotuta.

The town council has seven councilpersons, who serve as Secretary and councilors of health; parks and gardens; sports, public lighting, roads and markets, and cemeteries.

There is retablo of the Trinity with intricate details which is a "twisted Solomonic columns and capitals in the form of human heads".

This is said to be cuartel barracks dated to 18th century that was built over a hermitage chapel which was also a replacement of a mound of a Maya temple.