Esencia is the second village of Rancho Mission Viejo that was built in 2017 to current. The neighborhoods of Esencia are terraced into west-facing hillsides, affording both coastal views and backcountry panoramas. 
 
Esencia is expected to ultimately include approximately 2,810 attached and detached homes within about 35 distinctive neighborhoods, including up to a dozen non-gated Gavilán neighborhoods of primarily single-level homes for residents age 55-plus. In addition, between 250 and 500 apartment homes are planned for Esencia. 
 
The highlight of Esencia is the recreational and community-gathering amenities located at the Hilltop Club clubhouse which includes a fitness center, swimming pool, spa, arcade, bar and lounge, and expansive event lawn. Esencia also has its very own coffee shop called The Canyon House. Within that facility includes meeting and event rooms, a catering kitchen, an activity lawn, and a large open-air courtyard overlooking an oak-filled canyon with hiking trails and scenic look-outs. Within walking distance is the Esencia Farm that has a variety of in-ground row crops and fruit trees, raised planner beds, a harvest/preparation barn, chicken coop, and greenhouse. 
 
The Esencia Sports Park is due to open in the summer of 2020 with multiple athletic fields, a community plunge with community pool, children’s splash park, and multi-use courts for tennis. Esencia School is a new K-8 school campus (part of the Capistrano Unified School District) and includes an adjacent community park. Approximately 50 acres of commercial space has been allocated at Esencia for such uses as retail shops and services, restaurants, professional and medical offices, and more. Also, don’t forget about your dogs. Esencia has the South Paw, which has one dog park for small dogs and the other for bigger dogs.