Butterflies Valley (Petaloudes): A Cool Green Wonder

Just 10 kilometres from the airport and 25 from Rhodes Town lies the famous Valley of the Butterflies. It’s a habitat of dense flora and breathtaking natural beauty, where bridges sit in harmony with their surroundings, paved paths wind past ponds and small, inexhaustible waterfalls, and a serene atmosphere takes over. The only sounds are the chirping of cicadas and the murmur of cool water — a perfect place for families with children to enjoy nature and watch the life cycle of butterflies up close during a summer holiday.

The butterfly itself

The valley is the summer refuge of the moth known scientifically as Panaxia Quadripunctaria. By day it rests on tree trunks and rocks, folded into the shape of an equilateral triangle. Its forewings are a black-brown marked with white-yellow streaks, while its hindwings are red with four black spots. Feeding on nectar and water, it appears in Petaloudes in mid-June and migrates away in late September.

A protected natural treasure

Spanning 600 acres and part of the Natura 2000 network, the valley lies on the north-western side of Rhodes — 26 kilometres from the city and 6 from the west coast, between the villages of Paradisi and Theologos. The Pelekanos River runs the length of it. At the bottom of the site sits the Natural History Museum, which displays specimens of the island’s flora and fauna alongside butterfly species from around the world. From there, a specially built uphill path leads through trees, small waterfalls, wooden bridges and little lakes all the way to the Monastery of Panagia Kalopetra at the top of the valley.