The Río Calle Calle is the principal urban river of Valdivia in the Región de Los Ríos, flowing approximately 55 kilometers from its origin at Lago Riñihue — where the Río San Pedro and Río Quinchilca converge — westward through the city of Valdivia, where it joins the Río Valdivia near the city center. The river is navigable along much of its length, with calm, slow-moving water that makes it accessible to a wide range of paddlers.

The river passes directly through Valdivia, a city of more than 170,000 inhabitants, giving the paddling experience a distinctly urban character through much of its lower reach. The Costanera de Valdivia runs along the riverbank and features pedestrian walkways and embarcaderos, meaning paddlers will share the water with catamaran tour boats, motorized lanchas, and other recreational watercraft. The Puente Calle-Calle, with its tall arches designed to allow boat passage, is one of the prominent landmarks visible from the water. The Pedro de Valdivia Bridge, connecting the city center with Isla Teja, was constructed between 1938 and 1953 and is another notable structure along the route.

Away from the city, the river corridor passes through rural areas. Accommodations with river access and docks exist along the banks in areas such as Máfil, roughly 30 kilometers from Valdivia, and near Antilhue, suggesting put-in or take-out options exist in the rural mid-section of the river. At least one property near the river offers shared kayak access, indicating that informal paddling infrastructure exists along the corridor.

The river's name derives from the Mapudungun word kallekalle. The waterway has been used for navigation and fishing since pre-Hispanic times by Huilliche peoples, and after the founding of Valdivia in 1552 it served as a commercial and transport artery connecting the city to the sea via the Río Valdivia and ultimately the Bahía de Corral. This historical role as a navigable commercial route reinforces the river's generally calm and wide character throughout its lower reaches.

Paddlers should be aware of commercial and tourist boat traffic, particularly in the urban section near Valdivia, which represents the primary navigational consideration on this river.