Due to Cotoca’s geographical location, it has always been a regular stop for many travelers on their way from the nearby capital Santa Cruz to the Chiquitania territory in Bolivia and to the country of Brazil.

Up through well into the 19th century, the population of Cotoca primarily consisted of Afro-Bolivianos and mulattos who worked as slaves on the local sugar cane haciendas.

In Gomez's writings, he relates that several slaves were unjustly accused by their patron of assassinating another hacienda owner.

The slaves carefully removed the trunk with the image and took it to Cotoca to show their patron in hopes that he would believe that they had not killed the man in question.

In 1799, primarily due to the miracles said to be occurring because of the Virgin of Cotoca's intercession, the Catholic Church in Bolivia authorized the construction of a shrine to be built in her honor.

Those making pilgrimages to the sanctuary usually do so on foot, beginning in the City of Santa Cruz located approximately 20 kilometers outside of Cotoca.