A photonic waveguide structure may include a tapered photonic waveguide structure within a photonic substrate, such that the tapered photonic waveguide structure has a tapered region that progressively tapers in width along a longitudinal length of the tapered photonic waveguide structure. The photonic waveguide structure also includes an optical fiber waveguide having a core region and a cladding region, whereby a portion of the core region is partially exposed by removing a portion of the cladding region. An outer surface of the portion of the core region that is partially exposed is substantially coupled to the tapered photonic waveguide structure. An optical signal propagating along the tapered photonic waveguide structure is coupled from the tapered region of the tapered photonic waveguide structure to the core region of the optical fiber waveguide via the core region that is partially exposed.