This article presents, through the life and work of the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the theme of mestizaje and the possibilities of integration into the rigidly structure society that was colonial Latin America in the sixteenth century. The article defines the meaning of the term mestizo with the intention of clarifying the precise monent when, and the reasons why, mestizos were pushed to the margins of colonial society. Next, Bonnett analyzes the general living conditions of the mestizo in order to explain the integrating mechanisms, adopted by Garcilaso, to fight social prejudices present in his own society.