We are back in Chile after and all too brief dip into Argentina. Alas we already know that we will have to return for a longer vistit there sometime in the future. Luckily we had the perfect remedy to our Argentina-we-hardly-knew-ye blues: A visit to Chilean Patagonia's Natural Penguin Preserve on Isla Magdalena.

After an hour and a half ferry ride up the Straight of Magellan we arrived at the tiny island about 30km northwest of Punta Arenas. Although the island is only a few acres in size it is home to over 60,000 breeding pairs of Magellanic Penguins - the most common and abundant species of penguin in South America. The penguins are migratory and only stay on this island from about mid September to April so that they can breed and raise their young. The penguins are monogomous and they make their homes in tiny hoies they dig in the earth. It was funny to see these little families of penguins standing outside their homes greeting us.

The penguins were as adorable as they were plentiful. So graceful and confidant in the water they are equally akward and slow on land - waddling around with their oversized feet and formal tuxedo.