Butterfly valley
On the western side of Rhodes, near the village of Tholos, lies a beautiful valley. This valley is home to thousands of butterflies that flood the valley in order to reproduce. This has long been revered as a tourist trap, and is considered a must-see among many travelers who wish to experience all that Rhodes has to offer.
Sadly, the butterflies have declined in numbers of the years. This is because of a few reasons, but namely because of visitors disturbing them. It is very interesting to note that these butterflies do not eat anything in their butterfly form, until mating occurs. Instead, the butterflies depend on energy stored as a caterpillar to live on until the mating process begins. Visitors have disturbed the peace, in a sense, because these butterflies are often scared by human presence. When the butterflies become frightened, they fly away- which uses valuable energy stores. Sadly, this has caused many of the butterflies to use up all of their energy and die.
Entrance into the valley is a small 5 Euros, which is a rather great bargain considering the views are extraordinary. The valley is home to many streams, waterfalls, and trees. Many different paths, stairs, and bridges let you explore the valley with a peaceful walk among the butterflies or moths. Don’t be confused by the name, the Butterfly Valley is actually closer to a forest than an open valley.
There are a few disappointing notes to take into effect. While the admission is fairly cheap, the taxi ride will usually cost about 25 Euros. At about 5 times the ticket price, it can be fairly expensive overall- that is, if you are trying to watch your money. There are also periods of times where there are extremely few butterflies at Butterfly Valley- which kind of demeans the experience altogether. However, it is usually a good idea to visit if there is nothing else to do- as it is literally a very unique place that is not seen too many places elsewhere.
At the entrance of the Valley, travelers will notice an extensive amount of souvenir shops. This makes the experience very memorable for those who enjoy collecting keepsakes or souvenirs. These souvenir shops are very popular, partly because the Butterfly Valley is extremely unique. The dense amount of trees will ensure older people can walk the pathways without foregoing too much stress. The beautiful sights are very picture worthy, and pictures will remind travelers of how beautiful the valley is.
In the end, the Valley is a worthwhile trip. As long as the right timing is present, a great deal of butterflies can be seen on this extraordinary trip. Souvenirs and pictures go great with the experience- as the waterfalls, springs, trees, and immense amount of butterflies can create truly inspiring photographs. If you have experience much of the other things that one may experience on Rhodes- it is a great idea to travel to this destination and see the Butterfly Valley for yourself.