Red Butterfly Gorge

The gorge (of) Orino or gorge of Red Butterflies is a gorge in southeastern Crete. It is located near the settlement of Lerithi Mountain and is 5 km long. It is considered one of the most beautiful gorges of the island. In 1993, after a great fire, the gorge suffered great disasters. Now, however, the vegetation and the green in the gorge have been fully restored. Before the fire, in the gorge, there were countless red butterflies (that’s why it was called the gorge with the red butterflies), which are still there but have been greatly reduced. Also characteristic of the gorge are the many small streams and small waterfalls that exist all the way. The gorge could be thought to be divided into 3 parts. The first part is green, with intense vegetation. In the second part, after an hour’s drive, there is a mountainous cultivated area and in the third part, towards the end of the gorge, the rocks rise very quickly, and the mountains look better. The gorge starts from the village of Orino and reaches Koutsoura 21 kilometers east of Ierapetra. Its course does not exceed 4 hours in the summer, while in the winter it is a bit inaccessible due to the springs and the waterfalls running. The gorge of Orino, like most, has signs that show the way you have to cross. Which, however, you should be careful of crossing the gorge because it is very easy to confuse and lose your way.