Butterfly valley Petaloudes in Rhodes

The Butterfly Valley, also called Petaloudes, is a wooded valley about 27 kilometres south of Rhodes town. The Butterfly Valley is one of the most visited and most popular excursion destinations on Rhodes. From July to the end of September, the valley is filled with thousands of butterflies of the species Jersey tiger (in English) and Panaxia quadripunctaria (in Latin). There is also a butterfly valley in Paros in the Cyclades with the same name.

Butterfly Valley, also called Petaloudes, is located approximately 27 kilometres south of Rhodes town.

You walk along paths and sometimes on small wooden bridges. A stream ripples through the valley, forming small waterfalls. It is beautiful like in a dream. But what is a beautiful dream for us is a nightmare for the butterflies that live here, they would be much better off if there were no tourists. Unfortunately, there are some visitors who do everything they can to scare the butterflies so they can be seen better. When the butterflies are still they are black and white and look like spiders, when they fly they show their beautiful red wings. And that's the red side people want to see.

A stream ripples through the valley, forming small waterfalls.

Resting Jersey Tiger butterflies in the valley.

The butterflies are here to rest so they can make new butterflies, and if they don't get to rest, there won't be any new butterflies. Warning signs are in four languages, but not everyone seems to care about the texts. Some even poke the butterflies with sticks! If it weren't for these disturbing elements, Butterfly Valley would be an oasis. Feel free to go here and have a look, because the valley is very beautiful and the butterflies are as beautiful as any, but don't disturb them.

The butterflies are anything but easy to capture in a picture.

The Butterfly valley is a beautiful oasis even without butterflies.

There are two entrances to the butterfly valley, an upper and a lower. Tickets are sold at both locations and the ticket is valid for the entire valley. In the lower valley there is a small nature museum where you can read about the butterflies. There are also stuffed animals that are, or have been, on Rhodes, including a stuffed wolf.

One of the waterfalls in the Butterfly valley.

Map of Butterfly valley.

If you have visited the waterfall at Potami beach near Karlovassi in Samos, you will recognize yourself. The only difference is that there are no butterflies on Samos.

Read about the waterfall on Samos here »

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