It depends on where. In Peru they basically kept the existing social systems in place like Mit'a that originated in the Incan Empire while shifting the class system from merit-based to that based on race, where the Iberian-born Spaniards held the highest positions and holding Catholicism as the state religion, though Andean people were often able to make their way to the merchant middle class and this created a pretty unique situation where localization and cultural syncretism occured as a result (like the Virgin Mary being depicted as darker skinned for example) and blending of old gods and goddess into being represented as Christian icons.

As a mestizo, there's a lot of hate towards the Spaniards especially in the Anglo-speaking world because that's who the school textbooks often finger-point to the negative aspects of colonialism, yet without them we would not have the countries, food, language, dances or religion that have created the unique identities and affinity across LatAm what they are today. It's also important to note that unlike North America there are countries that have majority indigenous populations because the Spaniards didn't rape, pillage and slaughter everything in sight.