Chintheche sits on the M5 lakeshore road, roughly 40 km south of Nkhata Bay and about 90 km from Mzuzu, the nearest city with any real transport infrastructure. Mzuzu is the main gateway: minibuses and shared taxis run between Mzuzu and Nkhata Bay and will drop you at the Chintheche turn-off. From there it is a short walk or motorcycle taxi ride to the lake.
If you are coming from the south, the lakeshore road passes through Nkhotakota and Dwangwa before reaching Chintheche. Long-distance coaches on the Blantyre–Mzuzu route do not always call at Chintheche, so check your departure carefully. The nearest airport with scheduled domestic services is Mzuzu Airport, which has connections to Lilongwe. From the airport, hire a taxi or catch a minibus toward Nkhata Bay.
Driving your own vehicle is the most flexible option. The M5 is a paved road in reasonable condition for most of its length, though sections near the lake can be rough after heavy rain. Fuel is available in Chintheche town, though supplies can be intermittent — fill up in Mzuzu if possible.