Greece is home to some utterly breath-taking landscapes, iconic ruins, picture-perfect towns, and natural wonders from monasteries perched on towering rock formations to white-washed villages looking over the sea to ancient pillars still standing proud on hilltops. However, one of the most astounding and magical beauties in the entire country has to be the Valley of the Butterflies, or Petaloúdes that can be visited by those who book a vacation rental in Greece.
Located on the island of Rhodes, this 600-acre nature park is the only natural forest of Liquidambar orientalis (Oriental Sweetgum trees) in Europe. A green valley dotted with waterfalls and moss-covered rocks and cut through by rivers, this lush garden of delights is where the Jersey Tiger (Panaxia Quadripunctaria), a nocturnal moth, makes its home each summer.
With walking trails and benches all throughout the park, it is an ideal place to come and stroll. Stroll is the key word, however, as the butterflies camouflage against tree trunks, making them hard to spot. But, if you slow down and take your time, you’ll be able to make them out.
The best time of the year to come to take in this natural wonder is at the end of the wet season around late May, when the scent of the Oriental Sweetgum trees draws the butterflies during the last stage of their life cycle. As they cannot eat and must rest to conserve their energy at this point in the cycle, they rest in their thousands against the trees. Just be sure to stay quiet or you may scare them and make them fly off.
Those who remain still enough may even have some of the butterflies land on them, though remember that it is prohibited to purposefully touch, move, or scare them. Greater numbers of visitors in recent years have affected the population so be sure to respect this natural wonder if you stop by in order to preserve it.
Discover our villas in Greece today and come explore this and the many other beautiful attractions on the island!