A buried-waveguide light detecting element includes an n-type cladding layer on a Fe-InP substrate, a waveguide on a portion of the n-type cladding layer, and in which an n-type light guide layer, an i-light guide layer having a refractive index equal to or higher than that of the n-type cladding layer and undoped or having an impurity concentration of 1.times.10.sup.17 cm.sup.-3 or less, lower than the impurity concentration in the n-type light guide layer, a light absorption layer having a refractive index higher than that of the i-light guide layer, a p-type light guide layer, and a p-type cladding layer are successively layered in mesa form, from the Fe--InP substrate, and a blocking layer on the Fe--InP substrate and in which side walls of the waveguide are embedded.