Butterflies Valley

Nestled in the heart of Rhodes Island, the Butterflies Valley (Petaloudes) offers a truly unique and captivating natural experience. More than just a habitat for butterflies, this enchanting park is a verdant oasis of lush greenery, flowing streams, and tranquil walking trails. It's a perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful immersion in nature, far from the bustling tourist hubs.

What to Expect

The valley is a captivating natural wonder, characterized by its fresh air, dense forest, and crystal-clear streams. Visitors often describe feeling completely embraced by nature, finding serenity and tranquility at every turn. The well-maintained trails wind through the scenic landscape, providing a calm and picturesque walk.

The Butterflies 🦋

While the valley is named for its winged inhabitants, it's crucial to manage expectations regarding the number of butterflies you'll encounter. The presence of the Panaxia Quadripunctaria (Jersey Tiger Moth) is highly seasonal. Visitors in October and September reported seeing very few, if any, butterflies. However, during their peak season (typically June to September, with August being peak), some visitors have described discovering a "stunning amount of butterflies" deeper into the route.

Even outside of peak butterfly season, the valley remains a beautiful and worthwhile visit for its natural beauty and peaceful ambiance. It's truly a place to appreciate the countryside, surrounded by trees and water.

🚶‍♀️ The Trail Experience

• Length: The main walk is approximately 1.5 km (and return).
• Terrain: Be prepared for a moderate hike with many stairs and steep slopes. It is not suitable for strollers. Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended.
• Duration: Most visitors find an hour or so is sufficient to explore the valley.
• Humidity: Due to the forested area, the valley can be quite humid and hot, especially during warmer months. Be prepared to sweat and consider bringing extra clothes.
• Crowds: The experience can be significantly impacted by visitor numbers. While beautiful when quiet, it can feel cramped and less enjoyable when busy. Visiting in the afternoon or during off-peak times might offer a more serene experience.
• Other Wildlife: Keep an eye out for adorable little crabs along the path, adding to the valley's charm.

💲 Practical Information & Facilities

• Entrance Fee: The entrance fee is typically around 6 euros per person.
• Refreshments: There are kiosks and bars located at the top and bottom of the trail where you can purchase drinks. However, be aware that prices can be quite high (e.g., over 4 euros for a small coffee, 3 euros for water, 6 euros for a slush).
• Toilets: There is a charge to use the toilet facilities.
• Car Park: The car park is located a little distance from the main entrance.

🚗 Getting There

The journey to Butterflies Valley is part of the experience, offering scenic views, but the road leading to the valley can be quite bumpy and winding. If you are prone to motion sickness, it's something to keep in mind before setting out.

Overall Recommendation

Butterflies Valley is an unforgettable experience for nature lovers. Despite potential challenges like high humidity, stairs, and sometimes sparse butterflies outside of peak season, the peace and calm derived from being so close to nature make it a highly recommended visit. It's a wonderful opportunity to disconnect and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Rhodes.

We were here in may, knowing there are no butterflies to see yet. We enjoyed a nice long walk as well as seeing all of the nature. We did see some crabs in the water. Unfortunately the food wasn’t good, dry and probably just defrosted.We can however recommend the lemonade as well as the smoothies. They were perfect for the walk and to enjoy the weather. We will be coming back in the butterfly season some time!! Worth a trip.

Terrific site to see!Lower path is less strenuous. High path is more marvelous to see. Pricing for off Season is 3€ p.P. (April to May) Double It for High Season. (mid June till September)Water is clear. Nature is beautiful.A very calming experience.

The valley is nice to walk through and the pavements are kept well. The toilets are absolutely disgusting (you even pay 0.50€ to use them) - they are dirty, no paper, no light, they stink and there is trash everywhere…In May there are NO butterflies, but they tell you at the entrance. The fee is 3€ per person. Parking was free, but it was not a busy day during off season.

Loved our visit to butterfly valley.There was no butterfly's there. (We knew this when going) Still worth going for a nice walk/hill climb.If you're sunburnt it's the perfect place to do something, well under tree cover.It's only 3 euros to enter per person, I believe 6 euros June until October.The drive to butterfly valley is worth the trip too.There is also a lower part to the valley I think a fair few people would miss.

Lovely trails with stunning nature and calm enviroment, only downside was the amount of high steps but it was very worth it even tho we visited before the actual butterfly hatching. Bring plenty to drink and i do recommend driving there yourself so you can enjoy it and take your time there.