No, Maya and Mayans are not the same. The term Maya refers to the ancient civilization that existed in Mesoamerica, known for its advanced writing system, art, architecture, mathematics, and astronomical knowledge. The Maya civilization flourished in areas that are now part of modern-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador.
On the other hand, Mayans refers to the people who are descendants of this ancient civilization. Today, the Mayans are an indigenous group that continues to live in these regions, maintaining many of their ancestral traditions, languages, and cultural practices.
In summary, while Maya refers to the historical civilization, Mayans refers to the contemporary people who are the descendants of that civilization.