The Río Palguín is located near Pucón in the Araucanía Region of Chile and is widely regarded as one of the standout whitewater kayaking destinations in the country. The river is typically divided into two distinct sections — the Upper Palguin and the Lower Palguin — each rated roughly Class III to IV+, with individual rapids pushing into the IV+ to V range.

The Upper Palguin is the more celebrated of the two sections and is characterized by a basalt canyon setting. The run is short but intense, featuring a series of clean waterfalls ranging from 10 to 20 feet in height. Access begins at a roadside pulloff near Salto Palguín, though private access with landowner permissions is also used. Vehicle break-ins have been reported at the roadside put-in, so paddlers should avoid leaving valuables in their cars. A notable feature at the put-in is a natural land bridge spanning the river, from which paddlers seal launch into the canyon. The take-out is approximately 0.75 km below the put-in at a pull-off near a fence. The compact nature of the run means that once lines are memorized, the entire section can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes, making it highly lappable.

Key rapids on the Upper include the Put-in Drop (IV+ to V), which requires boofing an entry hole and maintaining a straight line for the exit; a blind left-bending drop of roughly ten feet; and the Pinch Drop (IV+ to V), a narrow three-chute rapid only a boat-width wide. There is also a large rapid downstream that is consistently portaged via trail on river right out of respect following a fatality at that location. Paddlers should be aware of this hazard and follow the established portage.

Skills required for the Upper Palguin include a solid combat roll, creek eddy-catching, low-volume ferrying, and boof technique. At low water the run is more manageable, but at medium and higher flows backed-up boils and hydraulics increase significantly.

The Lower Palguin offers similarly scenic paddling and concludes with an autoboof drop that is considered one of the more enjoyable features in the area. The take-out for the Lower is at a bridge accessed via a dirt road. Local outfitters based in Pucón, including KayakPucon, provide guided access and logistical support for both sections.