The Río de las Vueltas is a glacially fed river in Argentine Patagonia, flowing southward from Lago del Desierto (506 m above sea level) to Lago Viedma (250 m above sea level), passing near the town of El Chaltén in the Province of Santa Cruz. Its waters originate largely from glacier melt in the northern section of Los Glaciares National Park, giving the river a characteristic milky gray-blue or turquoise color. The river belongs to the Río Santa Cruz basin and runs through a valley framed by native Andean forest, vertical rock walls, and views of the Fitz Roy massif and its satellite peaks, as well as Cerro Eléctrico to the west and the wooded Del Bosque range to the east.

The typical paddling route begins at Laguna Cóndor, reached by a roughly 21 km transfer along RP 41 from El Chaltén, and ends at Estancia Bonanza. This stretch covers approximately 12 km and takes between 1.5 and 2 hours of active paddling. The river is shallow and meandering through much of this section, with calm to moderate current, though wind can be a significant factor and may push paddlers toward the riverbanks. The middle section of the river, from Laguna Cóndor toward El Chaltén, is rated Class III to Class IV for rafting, while the upper portion near the put-in is calmer and more suitable for kayaking. Guided tours use sit-on-top or touring double kayaks depending on paddler experience, and full equipment — including neoprene wetsuit, thermal layers, semi-dry jacket, neoprene boots, mittens, life jacket, helmet, and paddle — is provided by operators. The water is cold enough to require a wetsuit throughout the paddling season.

Guided excursions are the standard format for accessing this river, with a minimum group size of four and a maximum of sixteen participants. The minimum age for guided trips is 12 years. Total activity time runs approximately five hours including transfers. A family-oriented soft rafting option covering the gentler meandering sections is also available and is suitable for younger children. Wildlife observation is possible along the route, and the river corridor offers views of the Fitz Roy massif that are distinct from those available on foot trails. Operators are based in El Chaltén at Av. San Martín 872.