How are bonuses to wonder completion not too general? How are world wonders part of Maya's distinctive identity? OK, there's Chichen Itza. Whate else?
What's most remarkable about the Mayans wasn't the physical works they produced, but rather the way they took their folklore and religious beliefs and used them to fuel scientific research rather than put themselves at odds with it.
Absolutely correct.... I just can't think of something different than what we already have with Babylon/Korea, etc. All stagnant turtle civs... if you make Mayan pure culture, it becomes another India.
You want something in between all that. Then again, you don't want some early tech bonus that doesn't multiply or is useless later in the game. So a beef of culture early on, a free Artist or whatever won't give you much later in the game. And Korea already has the extra science bonus for settled GP.
Like you said with Spain, and I agree completely they are the most fun, is that you need unique gameplay. Inca can provide that. I agree with the other poster... prioritize forests.... build the Steppe Pyramids and get a science and military boost. Make another UB a culture builder. Then make the UA something that allows for greater chance of GP generation or something. It is not as revolutionary as Spain but it's the only thing that comes to mind considering the game as is.