The Río Cisnes is a 160-kilometer river in the Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Region of Chilean Patagonia, draining a basin of approximately 5,464 square kilometers. It flows in a general east-to-west direction from the mountains near the Argentine border, eventually emptying into the Puyuhuapi Channel and the Pacific Ocean near the coastal town of Puerto Cisnes. The river carries an average discharge of around 700 cubic meters per second, reflecting the substantial volume of water moving through this system.

One of the river's most distinctive visual characteristics is its turquoise-blue color, which results from glacial sediments suspended in the water. Major tributaries include the Moro and Pinchado rivers. The mouth of the river sits adjacent to Puerto Cisnes, a town of approximately 7,000 inhabitants that serves as the largest urban center in the Cisnes commune and the second-largest port in the Aysén region. The town is situated on a small bay of the Puyuhuapi Channel, across from Parque Nacional Isla Magdalena.

The climate along the Río Cisnes is classified as Mediterranean continental with warm summers (Köppen Dsb), meaning at least four months average above 10°C (50°F) and at least one month averages below 0°C (32°F). This continental character distinguishes it from the wetter coastal zones of Patagonia and has implications for seasonal planning. The river is also visible from a lookout point along the Carretera Austral, the main road corridor through this part of Patagonia, which provides a reference point for access and orientation along the route.