Butterfly Valley

Petloudes – easy walking paths and beautiful nature

Butterfly Valley – Nature’s Hidden Oasis

The valley offers a different experience from the island’s beaches and ancient sites. Wooden bridges, trickling streams, and stone pathways guide you through a green canyon filled with tall trees, mossy rocks, and hidden waterfalls. It’s a perfect escape on hot summer days—shaded, quiet, and refreshing.

Central Waterfall

Exploring the Valley

The Valley is situated near the village of Theologos, approximately 23 km southeast of Rhodes town and 10 km from the Airport. The Valley was discovered in the 1930s by Italians, who developed a beautiful 1 km path that runs through the canyon, passing through areas where butterflies are most densely populated. There are three entrances, each with its parking area. The bottom entrance is next to the Museum of Natural History. The middle entrance is considered the main entrance, featuring a snack bar and a souvenir shop, while the upper entrance is located next to the Monastery of Panaghia Kalopetra.

Butterfly Valley Main Entrance

Kalimorphos Panaxia Quatripunktaria

Kalimorphos Panaxia Quatripunctaria is a colored species of moth that looks very much like a butterfly. It is 18 to 23 millimeters long, and the span of its wings reaches 55 to 60 mm. When at rest, the moth lowers its head and assumes the shape of an equilateral triangle. Only when it opens its wings can one see the bright orange color with dark spots, from where it’s another name, the “tiger moth.” They gather in the valley in large numbers during the hottest summer months (late June to September).

Only one species of Lepidopetra (Tiger moth) inhabits the Butterfly Valley

From January to February, the butterflies appear in the form of small eggs scattered throughout the island. In April, these eggs produce a small larva, which is transformed into a caterpillar, and in May, it achieves its final shape as a butterfly. When it turns hot, usually at the beginning of June, they leave their locale and migrate during the night until they reach the valley where they stay until the end of September. Butterflies are attracted to the scent of the resin from Styrax trees, as well as the coolness and humidity of the surroundings. By the end of summer, the insects mate, and only the female flies away (which can reach up to 25 km) to lay some 150 eggs in safe and dark places, such as between bushes and plants.

The butterflies live entirely from body fat during the summer. They sleep during the day and lose a vast amount of energy when alarmed and forced to flee from danger. It is, therefore, crucial for the survival of the species that visitors don’t disturb the butterflies if they are to make it through to autumn and lay their eggs once again, starting the cycle anew.